Egypt

Human capital is Egypt’s single biggest competitive advantage in the knowledge-intensive ICT industry. Authorities and sector players are keen to move the market to the next level with a range of programmes designed to develop skills and nurture entrepreneurship. While playing an important role in developing the ICT sector at a grassroots...

The launch of 4G mobile networks in September 2017 represented a turning point for the Egyptian telecoms sector, ushering in a new period of investment, international partnerships and technological innovation.

Egypt’s large and growing urban middle class makes it an increasingly attractive market for producers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), from snacks to cosmetics, to household cleaning supplies. Despite budget constraints stemming from the economic reforms passed in 2017 (see Economy chapter), many companies are taking a longer-term view...

With a renewed focus on growing quality cotton crops (see Agriculture chapter), Egypt’s textiles industry is experiencing a revival. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) points to textiles as one of the industries helping to shift Egypt’s trade balance in 2017, with exports increasing by around 12% and imports declining by 59%. Tarek Kabil...

Egyptian retail has come a long way since the days of the winding hustle of the Khan El Khalili market and the tentmaker’s souq. In a September 2017 briefing on the current status of Egypt’s economic reform programme, the IMF listed retail as one of the key sectors driving the 4.2% GDP growth rate during FY 2016/17. In a 2015 report, global...

With a large consumer base, a skilled labour force, a strategic geographic location for trade, and a series of pro-business government efforts to streamline licensing and operations, there are a number of reasons to recommend Egypt as an industrial centre. While challenges remain, there are new local and export-focused opportunities for...