Egypt boosts investment climate with EBRD support

Egypt’s Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib met on Wednesday with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to review efforts to improve the country’s investment climate and expand private sector participation.

Talks focused on Egypt’s privatisation strategy, corporate governance reforms, and measures to boost foreign direct investment (FDI). El-Khatib said inflows have risen significantly this year, with the government aiming to double them through stable policies and sector-specific strategies.

He pointed to opportunities in the industrial sector, highlighting Egypt’s skilled labour and advanced engineering base. Trade policy reforms have cut the time for products to enter the domestic market to 5.8 days from 16, with a target of two days by year-end, he said. Egypt’s trade agreements with major economic blocs were also cited as widening market access.

El-Khatib said business environment improvements will be tracked through the World Bank’s new Business Ready (B-READY) report, which replaces Doing Business, with most reforms to be rolled out within nine months. Digitalisation is central, including an electronic licensing platform that issued 389 licences in 20 days and plans for a single-window system through the upcoming Economic Entities Platform.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser