Egypt aims to attract $77 billion in cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) between fiscal years 2026/27 and 2029/30 under a strategy developed with the World Bank Group, alongside plans to establish 18 new investment and free zones to expand manufacturing capacity and support exports.
Saeed Arafa, assistant minister of investment and foreign trade for investment contracts, outlined the target at the Egypt Economic Outlook conference, identifying 10 priority sectors selected for their potential to increase domestic production, replace imports, expand exports and create jobs.
The targeted sectors include textiles and ready-made garments, automotive manufacturing, chemicals, food processing, engineering industries, electronics, renewable energy and logistics. The strategy focuses on directing foreign capital towards industries with established production capabilities and opportunities to strengthen local supply chains.
The four-year target represents an average of $19.25 billion annually, approximately 7% above the $18 billion in net FDI inflows reported for fiscal year 2025/26. The comparison illustrates the scale of the government’s ambition rather than a projected annual growth rate.
The government plans to establish nine new investment zones and nine new public free zones across several governorates, expanding the infrastructure available for manufacturing and export-oriented projects.
Egypt currently has nine public free zones and 12 investment zones across six governorates. The investment zones accommodate approximately 1,277 projects, while projects operating in the public free zones represent around $40 billion in investment costs and provide approximately 266,000 jobs, according to Arafa.
To improve investor access to opportunities, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade is developing an updated investment map detailing available project locations, land areas, infrastructure, land status and indicative prices. The initiative aims to provide clearer information on project readiness and facilitate investment decisions.
Private-sector participation has also increased. Arafa said private investment accounted for 57.7% of total implemented investment in fiscal year 2025/26, compared with 43.1% in 2023/24.
Business formation accelerated during the first nine months of 2026, with approximately 42,600 new companies established between January and September, up 29% from 32,900 in the corresponding period of 2025.
The investment strategy is accompanied by proposed amendments to the executive regulations of the Companies Law, aimed at simplifying company establishment, mergers, asset valuations and changes in legal structure. The changes would introduce clearer procedural deadlines and allow sole proprietorships to convert into corporate entities.
The ministry is also preparing a digital platform connecting government agencies responsible for company registration and licensing, alongside plans to extend round-the-clock investor self-service facilities to 15 centres.
Trade facilitation is another priority. The government aims to reduce customs clearance times to two days or less, from approximately 5.8 days currently, a change that could lower costs for manufacturers relying on imported components and exporters operating under tight delivery schedules.
Arafa also outlined plans for an industrial investment fund linked to Egypt’s sovereign wealth fund and a separate Africa-focused investment vehicle intended to support Egyptian companies expanding into regional markets.
Achieving the $77 billion target will depend on converting identified investment opportunities into funded projects, bringing the planned zones into operation and ensuring regulatory and customs reforms deliver measurable improvements. Sustained foreign capital inflows, rather than announced commitments alone, will determine whether the strategy meets its objectives by 2030.
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