Many of the government of Egypt’s recent reforms have centred around modernisation and digitalisation across all areas of the economy. Egypt Vision 2030 lays the groundwork for a digital transformation, and the Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategy 2030 focuses this shift on the agriculture sector. With climate change exacerbating water scarcity and food insecurity, it will be important for…
Financial technology (fintech) firms are gaining market share that was formerly the preserve of established remittance service providers. Remittances have grown in importance in recent decades and now constitute the largest source of foreign income for many developing economies. They also tend to be countercyclical, increasing during economic downturns or natural disasters when other capital flows…
Egypt has invested heavily in improving transport, housing and energy infrastructure in recent years. The government has been moving to establish new railway lines, renovate seaports and airports, and improve road networks (see Transport chapter). It has built new power plants, established new urban areas and expanded the country’s strategic Suez Canal. Much of the government’s current strategy…
In the years since 2015, when gas production was low and Egypt had to rely on imports to meet its needs, the government has implemented policies to boost oil and gas output at home. The 2017 Law for Gas Market Activities Regulation helped the authorities attract greater international investment in the offshore segment, and this was further supported by the establishment of the Natural Gas Regulatory…
As environmental, social and governance concerns become increasingly important in the corporate world, insurance companies are emerging as potentially key players in the shift away from fossil fuel-powered projects. The launch of the UN-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) in July 2021 reflects the global industry’s wider recognition of climate risks. Net Zero The NZIA was founded by eight…
Alongside a rapidly expanding renewable energy segment, Egypt is looking to adopt hydrogen technology to further diversify the energy mix. The construction of green hydrogen facilities will support the government’s plan to establish Egypt as global energy leader in line with Egypt Vision 2030. The International Energy Agency believes that hydrogen will be an integral part of a net-zero emissions…
The global tourism industry faces numerous challenges when it comes to decarbonisation, as highlighted by a November 2021 report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and multinational consulting firm Accenture. In the years prior to the pandemic the sector thrived, recording its 10th consecutive year of growth in 2019. Moreover, with…
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 gave rise to global acceleration in the uptake of digital platforms and services. This surge was consolidated in 2021, as it became clear – in emerging and developed economies alike – that digital is the new normal. While in some ways 2020 was reactive, with governments and businesses scrambling to implement digital approaches, 2021 was proactive, as those approaches…
Egypt has an established and dynamic start-up ecosystem, with company founders working across verticals to create innovative digital solutions. The country is home to the fourth-largest ecosystem of start-ups in Africa, with 562 active tech start-ups, according to a 2021 report from Disrupt Africa. Nearly 94% of startups are based in Cairo, with Alexandria accounting for 3.6% and the remainder in cities…
Industrial real estate has been a mainstay of economic development for decades. Over time, industrial developments have shifted from areas like 6th of October City to large-scale zones that host one manufacturing segment – for example, the $2.2bn textile complex in Al Sadat City. In 2014-21, 17 such complexes in 15 governorates were established, with LE10bn ($835.4m) worth of investment. These included…
