Egypt’s non-oil private sector showed resilience in February, absorbing a renewed surge in global commodity prices even as overall business activity softened slightly after a strong start to the year. According to the latest S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), the headline reading fell to 48.9 in February from 49.8 in January, remaining just below the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction. While the figure points to a modest cooling in operating conditions, economists say it still aligns with solid economic growth at the national level. Strong start to the year fades The February reading follows a period…
Author: Rana Salem
Egypt’s Ministry of Finance has launched its first government bond aimed directly at individual citizens, introducing a retail-focused instrument as part of efforts to broaden its domestic investor base. The “Citizen Bond”, available for subscription from February 22 through Egypt Post nationwide, offers a 17.75% annual return, paid monthly over an 18-month tenor, with a minimum investment of EGP 10,000 ($210.56). The issuance targets household savers, distinguishing itself from Treasury bills, which remain largely held by banks and institutional investors. Retail savings expansion The launch comes amid a notable expansion in domestic liquidity. Individual deposits in local currency reached EGP…
Egypt’s digital trade ecosystem is no longer in preparation; it is actively operating, with private sector adoption driving a structural shift in how the country participates in regional and global trade. Recent data and corporate surveys indicate that Egypt has moved beyond infrastructure build-out to execution, as firms integrate digital tools into operational workflows. According to Standard Chartered’s Future of Trade: Digitisation report, based on a survey of 1,200 multinational corporations across 17 markets, Egypt ranks among the highest-potential digital trade markets globally. Within the country, 96% of companies prioritize cloud adoption, 68% are strengthening internal digital capabilities, 44% are…
For decades, silver played second fiddle to gold, the faithful Robin to gold’s Batman in the precious metals universe. In 2026, that narrative is changing. Strong start to 2026 Silver opened the year at $73.03 per ounce after its strongest annual performance since 1979, surging past $100 earlier this year before consolidating just below $80. Analysts describe this not as simple volatility but as a fundamental repricing driven by structural market shifts. The metal’s safe-haven role was underscored during late February geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, global markets reacted sharply, sending…
Egypt’s startup ecosystem is entering a new phase. Launched in February 2026, the Egypt Startup Charter consolidates policies, incentives, and support mechanisms under a single national framework. For founders, investors, and ecosystem players, it is more than a strategy document—it reshapes how startups are defined, regulated, taxed, scaled, and even exited. At a time when entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a driver of economic growth, the Charter signals a decisive shift in how the state positions startups within the broader economy. A roadmap, not a law The Charter functions as a national roadmap for entrepreneurship, developed by the Ministerial Group…
Pricing incentives, vessel redeployments, and renewed service routes suggest a measured return of confidence in the Suez Canal. After years of caution, the reappearance of the world’s largest container ships is beginning to look less like chance and more like calculation. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has signalled a clear strategy. Through press releases in late January and February 2026, it highlighted three converging trends: ultra-large vessels returning, major alliances restoring services, and financial incentives reshaping the economics of the route. A 15% toll reduction shifts the equation At the core is Navigational Circular No. 3/2025, offering a 15% toll…
Egypt’s real estate market is entering a new phase. For years, frozen rental laws, fragmented property records, and limited transparency kept much of the sector outside the formal economy, favoring new cities and high-end projects while older urban areas stagnated. That balance is now shifting, driven by legal reform, foreign capital inflows, and tourism strategies reshaping demand. *All data is from the latest real estate industry insight by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. Real estate as a strategic economic pillar The sector now contributes roughly 10–11% of GDP, alongside manufacturing and tourism. In H1 FY 2024/25,…
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham) luncheon on February 1, Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, returned to conversations that began in mid-2024, when Egypt’s energy sector was under pressure and confidence among partners was being tested. What he outlined was not a list of pledges or a polished roadmap, but a strategic framework built around six pillars that now guide how Egypt is approaching energy, mining and investment — and how these strands are increasingly being aligned. Energy security before anything else Badawi made clear that energy security remains the government’s primary objective.…
As Egypt advances its national development agenda amid economic, environmental, and technological shifts, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continues to play a central role in supporting inclusive and sustainable growth across the country. With more than five decades of partnership in Egypt, UNDP works closely with government institutions, the private sector, and local communities to translate national strategies into tangible development outcomes. As she begins her tenure as UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Chitose Noguchi steps into a country navigating an important phase of transformation. In this interview with Business Monthly, she outlines UNDP’s role in supporting Egypt Vision…
The American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s Real Estate Conference, held on January 27, offered a timely snapshot of a sector undergoing a structural reset. After years driven by inflation, currency depreciation, and speculative demand, Egypt’s real estate market is recalibrating toward a more disciplined phase, shaped by macroeconomic stabilization, product quality, and the early emergence of real estate as an export-driven industry. The transition is gradual and uneven, but speakers agreed it is structural rather than cyclical. Stabilization, without complacency Opening the conference, Mohamed Youssef, CEO of Dcode Economic and Financial Consulting, framed Egypt’s economy as emerging from a…