Egypt has launched an integrated digital Environmental Impact Assessment (IDEIA) system to accelerate investment procedures, transition from paper processes, and enforce environmental standards, the ministries of environment and investment announced.
Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid Saleh launched the platform, which falls under the digital transformation component of the Green Sustainable Industry (GSI) programme. The GSI receives €271m in joint funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union, the French Development Agency, and the Egyptian government.
Awad stated the IDEIA system was developed in response to investor complaints regarding delays in previous assessment procedures. The new electronic platform allows investors to track applications and environmental studies, reducing manual intervention and providing precise data on application processing.
Protecting the environment and facilitating investment are complementary pillars of sustainable development, Awad said. She noted that the system’s success will depend on inter-agency data integration to speed up decision-making without compromising environmental standards, alongside continuous training of human resources.
Farid noted that the digital linkage between licensing authorities will build a comprehensive project database, aiding policymakers in identifying priority sectors based on updated data. He stated that IDEIA is part of a broader “Economic Entities Platform” aimed at stimulating domestic and foreign investment by shortening the documentary cycle.
Addressing carbon compliance, Farid highlighted Egypt’s development of a regulated voluntary market for trading carbon emission reduction certificates, stating that calculating carbon footprints is now vital for the competitiveness of Egyptian exports. The investment ministry is activating clauses within the Investment Law to offer incentives to companies committed to reducing emissions.
Furthermore, Farid said his ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy to establish a renewable energy project registry for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing these companies to benefit from trading issued carbon certificates.
Guido Clary, Head of the EIB’s Regional Hub for North Africa and the Near East, said the unified platform allows project developers and approved consulting firms to submit studies electronically. Concurrently, it enables the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) to manage reviews, issue approvals, and maintain a central database, aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 digital transformation goals.
Anne Schouw, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Egypt, stated that streamlining workflows and reducing processing times will support the industrial sector and help companies advance their projects. She added that the system is part of ongoing EU-Egypt cooperation to update environmental policies, support green production, and enhance the export opportunities of Egyptian industries.
The launch event was attended by Suez Governor Major General Hany Rashad, Chairperson of the General Organization for Export and Import Control Essam El-Naggar, Assistant Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Ayad, EEAA CEO Sherif Abdel Rahim, and GSI project manager Hanaa Gomaa, alongside deputy governors, heads of government agencies, and international development partners.
