Egypt’s ECA gains momentum with government support

The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) head Mahmoud Momtaz said on Monday that the authority has gained strong state support, reflecting the government’s commitment to competitive neutrality and market protection.

In his keynote speech at the second annual conference for the ECA, Momtaz said the competitive neutrality has been firmly upheld, supported by comprehensive legislative and institutional reforms that have strengthened the Authority’s capacity to operate with efficiency and independence.

These efforts culminated in key legislative amendments, most notably granting the ECA pre-merger oversight of economic concentrations. The authority now is recognised as one of the foremost competition agencies in the Middle East and Africa, as acknowledged by leading international organisations, he said. Over the past four years, the authority has successfully implemented its 2021–2025 strategy, surpassing its objectives and aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Momtaz announced that the authority is preparing to launch a new strategy for 2026–2030, building on past achievements and responding to the challenges posed by rapid economic, geopolitical, and technological changes.

The upcoming strategy focuses on enhancing competition policies, improving law enforcement mechanisms, and utilising AI technologies for monitoring and economic analysis to support the state’s comprehensive development plans.

Momtaz expressed his gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly for their full support of competition policies and empowering the ECA with the necessary powers.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama