The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) announced that the upcoming Companies Law will include a provision requiring all government approvals to be completed electronically within 20 working days, aligning with the timeline already applied to companies granted the “Golden License.”
The announcement was made by Hossam Heiba, CEO of GAFI, during a panel discussion titled “Macroeconomic Reforms in Egypt as a Catalyst for Investment” at the third edition of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Annual Report Summit 2025. The session featured Dr. Gehan Saleh, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Omar El-Shenety, Co-Founder of Zilla Capital.
Digital Transformation in Investment Procedures
Heiba highlighted that GAFI has successfully transformed investment procedures into a modern digital experience characterized by transparency and efficiency. This transformation, he noted, paved the way for integrating into the new Companies Law a binding clause requiring all government entities to process approvals electronically within the 20-day period.
“The new framework ensures fairness and speed, making it as seamless for all companies as it is for those granted the golden license,” Heiba said.
Boosting Egypt’s Investment Climate
The panel underscored the pivotal role of macroeconomic reforms in enhancing Egypt’s investment attractiveness, citing improvements in the business climate, legislative modernization, and infrastructure upgrades. These efforts, speakers agreed, are central to driving sustainable growth, empowering the private sector, and advancing entrepreneurship.
Heiba stressed that startups stand to benefit the most from streamlined investment procedures. “Previously, startups faced the greatest hurdles in terms of long establishment timelines and complex processes, unlike larger firms with greater resilience. Today, all investors can enjoy a simplified, internationally benchmarked digital process,” he explained.
He also revealed that Egypt’s experience in digitizing investment services is now being shared with African partner countries, as GAFI provides training to transfer knowledge and best practices.
Permanent Entrepreneurship Support Unit
The GAFI CEO also outlined the work of the Permanent Unit for Supporting Entrepreneurship and Startups, hosted by the authority. The unit acts as a hub connecting stakeholders across government and the private sector to translate Egypt’s strategic goals into actionable measures for improving the fast-growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.
After compiling databases on startup needs and growth opportunities, and benchmarking against experiences in more than 20 countries, GAFI is now finalizing a national startup strategy. The strategy will set specific targets for the number of new companies, their growth rates, and priority sectors for support.
Driving More Competitive Market
By linking regulatory reform with digital facilitation and a comprehensive strategy for startups, Egypt aims to strengthen its position as a regional investment hub. According to Heiba, the forthcoming Companies Law and GAFI’s initiatives are designed to ensure that all investors—local and foreign, large and small—benefit equally from a transparent, efficient, and supportive investment climate.
