Author: Rana Salem

Egypt’s startup ecosystem is entering a new phase. Rather than relying solely on venture capital to fuel growth, startups are increasingly becoming strategic partners for corporations seeking faster ways to innovate, expand into new markets, and strengthen their competitive edge. Government reforms are accelerating that shift by creating a more structured framework for collaboration between entrepreneurs, investors, and established businesses. The introduction of the Egypt Startup Charter in February 2026, followed by the launch of the Startup Egypt platform four months later, reflects a broader effort to formalize the country’s innovation ecosystem. Together, the initiatives establish a unified definition of…

Egypt’s non-banking financial sector is entering a new phase of regulatory reform as the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) seeks to accelerate digital transformation, deepen capital markets, and reduce administrative barriers for financial institutions. Speaking during an American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt) breakfast briefing on June 30, FRA Executive Chairman Islam Azzam outlined the regulator’s priorities, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech to insurance reform, capital markets, and financial education. The event, organized by AmCham Egypt’s Non-Banking Financial Institutions Committee, brought together industry leaders and private-sector stakeholders to discuss the future of Egypt’s financial regulatory landscape. Faster…

When valU debuted on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) in June 2025, it marked more than the listing of a consumer finance company. Its unconventional route to the public market challenged assumptions about how technology companies can access capital in Egypt and highlighted the evolving relationship between startups, regulators, and public markets. Those themes were explored during a fireside chat hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Committee, in collaboration with the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (MIT KSC), titled The Road to IPO: Navigating Policy, Regulation, and Market Readiness. The discussion featured…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming marketing at an unprecedented pace, changing everything from audience targeting to content creation. Yet as technology becomes more powerful, creativity and human insight may become even more valuable. That was the key message from Ihab Gohar, CEO of Animation Advertising, during the opening session of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s June 15 event, Egypt’s Evolving Marketing Landscape: AI, Digital Innovation, and Nation Branding. Moderated by Soha Sabry, Co-Chair of AmCham Egypt’s Marketing Committee and Marketing Consultant at The Marq, the discussion examined how AI is reshaping marketing while reinforcing the enduring importance of…

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms how destinations identify, target, and engage travelers, Egypt is positioning itself around a different competitive advantage: authentic, experience-led tourism. Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s June 15 event, Egypt’s Evolving Marketing Landscape: AI, Digital Innovation, and Nation Branding, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy outlined a strategy that combines AI-powered marketing with a broader effort to reposition Egypt’s tourism brand. Rather than relying solely on its traditional image of pyramids and beaches, the ministry is building its strategy around what it calls “unmatched diversity”—a positioning designed to showcase the country’s broad…

After more than two years of economic pressures and extensive reforms, Egypt appears to be entering a new stage marked by improving macroeconomic indicators and growing investor confidence. Inflation has moderated, economic growth has accelerated, and foreign exchange shortages that once constrained activity have largely eased. Whether these gains represent a durable shift from stabilization to sustainable growth remains a key question. To assess the outlook, Business Monthly spoke with Mohamed Abu Basha, Director and Head of Macroeconomic Analysis at EFG Hermes, and Hany Genena, Head of Research at Al Ahly Pharos. Signs of a broader economic recovery Recent indicators…

Egypt’s capital market is preparing for the next phase of its derivatives journey, with the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) set to launch single-stock futures contracts on June 18, expanding the range of risk-management tools available to investors and advancing the market’s broader modernization agenda. The rollout follows the March 1 introduction of EGX30 index futures, which marked the exchange’s first foray into derivatives trading. The upcoming expansion shifts the focus from broad market exposure to individual companies, allowing investors to hedge positions in specific stocks without liquidating their underlying holdings. “The problem with our market was that there was no way…

As global investors navigate an increasingly uncertain environment shaped by geopolitical tensions, shifting trade routes, and evolving supply-chain strategies, Egypt is drawing growing international attention. In an interview with Business Monthly on the sidelines of Standard Chartered Bank’s Global Research Briefing in Cairo on June 10, Bader Al Sarraf, Research Analyst and Associate Director at Standard Chartered Bank, explained why the country is becoming increasingly attractive to global investors and multinational companies despite regional volatility. The interview took place during an exclusive media roundtable organized by Standard Chartered to discuss its latest Global Research Briefing report, which examined Egypt’s economic…

Egypt is shifting its industrial strategy away from broad import substitution and toward integrating into global supply chains, with plans to increase non-oil exports from approximately $48 billion today to $100 billion by 2030, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said during an American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt luncheon on June 9 titled “Egypt’s Industrial Future: Scaling Growth, Competitiveness & Regional Leadership”. “We’re not going to localize everything. It doesn’t make sense. Nobody does that,” Hashem said. Instead, the Ministry of Industry is identifying highly specific industrial opportunities down to the eight-digit Harmonized System (HS) code level to determine which…

Egypt has signed a $420 million agreement with regional renewable energy developer Alcazar Energy to invest in, operate, and modernize the 580-megawatt Jabal El-Zeit wind farm, marking one of the largest renewable energy transactions under the government’s state ownership reform program. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing of the investment, operation, and power purchase agreements on June 8 between the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and Alcazar Energy, according to a Cabinet statement. The agreement forms part of Egypt’s State Ownership Policy Document, which aims to expand private-sector participation in the economy…