Annual urban inflation slowed for a second consecutive month in September, reaching its lowest level since February 2026. However, rebounding food prices and persistent housing costs continue to pressure household purchasing power. Egypt’s annual urban headline inflation fell to 13.9% in September from 14.5% in August, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The rate remained above 11.9% in January 2026 and 11.7% in September 2025. Nationwide, annual inflation edged up to 12.8% from 12.7% in August, compared with 10.3% a year earlier. Monthly nationwide inflation accelerated to 1.5%, while urban prices rose 1.3%, up from…
Author: Rana Salem
Egypt’s non-oil private sector continued to demonstrate resilience in September, as businesses maintained recruitment and remained optimistic about future activity despite renewed pressure on demand and operating costs. The S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 47.2 from 49.6 in August, reflecting a renewed deterioration in business conditions after a summer recovery. According to S&P Global’s October 5 release, the seasonally adjusted index fell below its long-run average of 48.2 and the 50.0 threshold separating monthly expansion from contraction. However, the reading remained above the 33.4 level historically associated with no change in annual real GDP growth, corresponding…
New Alamein hosted a series of cross-border agreements spanning automotive manufacturing, trade promotion, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, financial cooperation and education, as Egypt and its African partners sought to convert the continent’s economic integration agenda into projects and commercial partnerships. The inaugural Alamein Africa Business Forum, held in New Alamein from October 2 to 4, concluded with a series of agreements between Egyptian companies and institutions and their African counterparts, alongside a wider pipeline of proposed investments and financing initiatives. According to Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), the forum was established following an African Union decision in February 2026 to create a…
Egypt’s economic recovery is expected to continue through 2027, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) forecasting real GDP growth of 4.6% in 2026 and 5.0% in 2027 in its September 2026 Regional Economic Prospects. The outlook comes as stronger activity in communications, trade, and petroleum refining is supported by rising foreign-exchange inflows and improving external buffers. The EBRD said Egypt and Jordan showed notable resilience during the first half of 2026 despite the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The wider southern and eastern Mediterranean region, however, is projected to contract by 0.7% in…
Egypt’s Ministry of Finance is coordinating with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Industry to establish two funds to support targeted activities and sectors, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said on September 27. Speaking at the Techne Summit for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Kouchouk said the proposed funds would help make government support more targeted and effective. He did not provide details on the sectors to be covered, the size of the funds, or their expected launch dates. The funds are part of broader measures to support economic activity while maintaining fiscal stability. Kouchouk said the Ministry…
Egypt’s private investment rose 32% in the latest fiscal year, following a 77% increase the previous year, as the government pushes ahead with fiscal reforms aimed at strengthening private-sector growth and improving the business environment. Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s luncheon, “Egypt’s Macro-fiscal Reform Agenda: Enhancing Competitiveness of the Economy and Private Sector,” on September 21, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk outlined the government’s latest fiscal indicators and priorities for the next phase of reform. Private investment now accounts for 63% of total investment, making it the leading component for a second consecutive year. The government aims…
Egypt registered 5,022 newly established foreign companies during the first half of 2026, up 33.7% from 3,757 in the same period a year earlier, according to an infographic published by the Cabinet’s Media Center on September 16. The issued capital of newly established foreign companies also increased by 20.9% to EGP 21.4 billion ($412.07 million), compared with EGP 17.7 billion in H1 2025. The Cabinet’s Media Center attributed the increase to government efforts to improve the investment climate, simplify procedures, and attract international capital. Company formation and FDI The increase in foreign company registrations is an indicator of investor activity,…
Adopting artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming easier for businesses, but building an organization that can use it effectively requires more than access to new tools. Companies need to identify the right use cases, prepare their data, measure returns, and establish safeguards for responsible deployment. That was the central message of Session 2, “Beyond Automation: Creating an AI-Ready Organization,” at the AmCham HR Conference on September 15. The session brought together Ahmed Salama, CEO and Founder of Talin; Nesreen Sharaby, Chief Architect, Data & AI Technology at IBM Middle East & Africa; and Hesham Nabil Ibrahim, an AI enablement coach, trainer,…
Egypt’s annual headline inflation rate eased to 12.7% in August 2026, down from 13% in July, while consumer prices remained unchanged on a monthly basis, according to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the entire republic stood at 289.8 points in August, unchanged from July. The monthly stability was supported by a 1.2% decline in food and beverage prices, which offset increases in housing, utilities and other categories. Annual inflation remains above the 11.2% recorded in August 2025 and the 10.1% recorded in January 2026, but has continued…
For Egypt, the artificial intelligence (AI) transition isn’t simply about how quickly companies adopt new technology. It is a question of whether the country can equip its workforce with the skills needed to compete in an economy increasingly shaped by AI. That was a key theme of Session 3, “Human Potential Meets Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Leadership and Talent,” held during the AmCham HR Conference on September 15. The session featured Mohamed Farouk, Chairman and CEO of Mobica Group, in a conversation moderated by Ashraf Bakry, Co-Chair of AmCham’s Industry and Trade Committee and a board member of Oriental…