Profile: Moustafa Shaikhon, Egypt’s new Suez Canal Economic Zone chief

Egypt appointed Moustafa Shaikhon as chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), putting a trade and investment specialist with more than two decades of international experience in charge of a key vehicle for attracting foreign investment.

Shaikhon, who has served as SCZONE’s deputy chairman for investment and promotion since March 2025, took over as chairman on Wednesday for a one-year term following a presidential decree.

He spent more than two decades with Egypt’s Commercial Representation Service, which he joined in 2000, holding assignments at Egyptian commercial representation offices in New Delhi, Paris, Chicago, New York, and Sydney, according to SCZONE.

His work has included trade promotion, international negotiations, and economic relations, with participation in meetings involving institutions, including the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), European Union, COMESA, African Union, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), SCZONE said.

Sheikhoun also participated in the G20 summit in India, according to the authority.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from ESLSCA University and has completed training programmes in international economics and negotiations. He is also a fellow of the National Defence College at the Military Academy for Higher Studies and Strategy and graduated from the National Training Academy’s Commercial Representation Programme.