Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), announced that investment procedures in Egypt have been successfully transformed into a modern digital system designed to be transparent and straightforward. A key provision in the upcoming Companies Law—set to be presented to parliament—requires all government bodies to complete necessary approvals electronically within a maximum of 20 working days. The same timeframe will also apply to companies granted the Golden Licence.
Heiba’s remarks came during his participation in a panel discussion titled “Macroeconomic Reforms in Egypt as a Driver for Investment”, held at the third edition of the Annual Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Summit 2025. The session also featured Gehan Saleh, economic adviser to the Prime Minister, and Omar El-Shenety, co-founder of Zilla Capital.
The discussion highlighted the pivotal role of macroeconomic reforms in boosting Egypt’s investment appeal for both local and international investors. Panelists stressed the importance of legislative development, infrastructure upgrades, and business climate improvements to foster sustainable growth, strengthen entrepreneurship, and empower the private sector as a key partner in driving economic development.
During the session, Heiba emphasised that start-ups stand to benefit the most from streamlined procedures, as they are disproportionately affected by lengthy and complex requirements compared to larger companies better equipped to absorb costs. He underlined that all businesses will now operate through a simplified, fully digital system aligned with international best practices.
Heiba also outlined the work of GAFI’s permanent unit for supporting entrepreneurship and start-ups, which acts as a hub connecting all stakeholders in the ecosystem. The unit translates national strategic objectives into practical mechanisms aimed at strengthening the performance of the sector.
He added that, after compiling databases on start-up needs and growth opportunities and studying best practices from over 20 countries, GAFI is finalising a comprehensive strategy. This plan sets clear goals for the sector, including targeted numbers of new companies, expected growth rates, and priority activities to be supported in the coming period.
