Egypt launches training programme to prepare state-owned firms for public offerings

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has launched the country’s first national training programme to prepare state-owned companies for public offerings on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), supporting the government’s privatisation programme through capacity building and technical training.

The programme, launched on Sunday by FRA Chairman Islam Azam, is being delivered by the Financial Services Institute and the Egyptian Institute of Directors (EIoD), the authority’s training arms. The first training course has already begun at the two institutions.

Initially targeting the 20 state-owned companies that have secured temporary listings on the EGX, the programme will later be expanded to other companies earmarked for public offerings in the petroleum, mining, pharmaceuticals, tourism, contracting, education and industrial sectors.

The first round, which runs for seven days, includes executives, finance officials, and managers from 14 companies temporarily listed. Additional participants will join future training rounds.

The programme consists of seven core modules covering the capital market’s legislative and regulatory framework, temporary and final listing procedures, financial and accounting readiness, governance and sustainability requirements, disclosure and prospectuses, public offering mechanisms, and post-listing obligations. Experts deliver training from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), and FRA-licensed offering advisers.

Participants include chairpersons and board members of state-owned companies, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, finance managers, disclosure and investor relations officers, governance and internal audit officers, and other executives responsible for listing and public offering processes.

The initiative aims to strengthen companies’ technical and financial readiness for public offerings, improve financial literacy, promote governance and disclosure standards, and develop specialised national expertise in capital market listings through a comprehensive simulation-based training programme.