During his participation at the Egypt VC Summit 2025, held on February 4-5, 2025, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Eng. Hassan El-Khateeb, emphasized the pivotal role of the summit in creating a supportive environment that fosters stronger ties between investors and contributes to sustainable economic growth in Egypt and the broader region.
The summit, attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, and Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, serves as a critical platform for discussing investment opportunities and economic collaboration, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
In his speech, El-Khateeb outlined that the current phase marks a transitional period, shifting from state-managed economic operations to empowering the private sector to lead the process of economic development. This transition, he noted, aligns with Egypt’s broader economic strategy, which is focused on increasing private sector participation and competitiveness.
He emphasized that the government is committed to enhancing Egypt’s business climate by improving decision-making processes and ensuring that the private sector plays a more significant role in driving the country’s economic future. As part of this shift, the Ministry of Investment aims to attract more direct foreign investments by enhancing the ease of doing business and simplifying procedures.
“We aim to position Egypt as a leading investment and trade destination in the region by creating sustainable investment opportunities that support economic growth,” El-Khateeb explained. He also highlighted Egypt’s developed infrastructure, new cities, skilled workforce, and strategic geographical location, which provides access to key markets in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Egypt’s extensive network of free trade and preferential trade agreements with over 70 countries further enhances its attractiveness for investors.
El-Khateeb also noted that ongoing reforms in fiscal, monetary, trade, and procedural policies are designed to improve the investment climate and simplify trade processes. The government is focused on reducing customs clearance times and lowering logistical costs, which will boost competitiveness and significantly benefit the economy.
Looking ahead, El-Khateeb shared that Egypt’s government is working to position the country among the top 50 global trade nations, with a special focus on increasing exports. Additionally, the government aims to enhance the assets and investments managed by the sovereign wealth fund, ensuring that Egypt maximizes the value of its underutilized state assets through innovative strategies and public-private partnerships.
