Egypt puts trade name registration online to ease business – GAFI

Egypt has launched an online system enabling investors to reserve trade names and obtain non-confusion certificates electronically through the government’s Digital Egypt Platform, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) said on Wednesday.

The new service, activated in cooperation with the Internal Trade Development Authority (ITDA), allows investors and entrepreneurs to complete the process without paper documents or in-person visits, GAFI explained in a statement. The move is part of the government’s broader digital transformation drive under Egypt Vision 2030.

Under the system, users can apply for a trade name reservation and receive a non-confusion certificate by creating an account on the Digital Egypt Platform, accessing commercial registry services, and submitting the application online.

GAFI said investors will be able to use the electronic reservation code directly within the automated company incorporation system, replacing the requirement to submit a paper certificate and helping speed up company registration procedures.

The authority said the initiative aims to simplify administrative processes, reduce time and costs for businesses, and improve transparency, adding that the move aligns with international best practices in digital government services.

GAFI described the cooperation with the ITDA as a model for coordination among state institutions, supporting faster and more efficient investment services and contributing to sustainable economic development.

Egypt has been expanding digital public services in recent years as it works to attract domestic and foreign investment and improve its competitiveness amid regional and global economic challenges.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English