Financial Services

The insurance sector’s ongoing reform process has strengthened the regulatory environment and fundamentals remain relatively solid. While some regulations have placed new demands on insurers, the fact remains that the country’s low level of insurance penetration translates to significant unexplored potential – and further regulatory reforms are expected to increase the number...

With reforms steadily changing the nature of Egypt’s economy, capital markets are finding new footing in an increasingly competitive region. The long-term growth prospects for the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) are closely linked to macroeconomic performance, as a host of development projects and regulatory upgrades have helped to keep GDP growth rates up. In the near team, however,...

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’...

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...

Even when faced with complex regional politics, currency fluctuations and the impact of global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, Egypt’s banking sector remained resilient amid wider economic pressures in recent years. Part of this is attributed to the sector’s size – with Egypt having the largest banking system in North Africa – and stability. The industry has played an...