Opportunity Initiative

The "Opportunity Initiative" aims to implement financial and monetary reforms to achieve accelerated and sustainable growth rates, as well as comprehensive development for foreign investors in Egypt.
An ambitious economic reform program was launched in 2016 and continued until April 2021. This phase included:
Financial and Monetary Reforms:
Root Solutions for Economic Issues: Addressing structural and administrative issues faced by foreign investors abroad.
Achieving Macroeconomic Surplus: Achieving a surplus in macroeconomic indicators through the liberalization of the exchange rate in Egypt.
Structural Reforms in the Investment Environment:
Supportive Investment Laws: Enacting laws that support the investment climate and foreign investors in Egypt.
Establishment of the Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises Development Agency: Promoting the development of small, medium, and micro enterprises.

Legislative Reform Advantages in Egypt:

The investment climate in Egypt has witnessed numerous legislative and institutional reforms aimed at simplifying and facilitating the procedures for investors in terms of company formation, time, cost, and the number of steps needed to start a business. Key improvements include:
Company Formation in One Day: Business entities can be established in one working day at the General Authority for Investment.
Licensing Issuance in 20 Business Days: Licenses are issued by the relevant authorities within 20 business days.
Abolishment of the Initial Industrial License: The previously required preliminary industrial license is no longer needed when registering with the General Authority for Investment.
Residence Permits for Non-Egyptian Investors: The government grants residence permits to non-Egyptian investors for the entire duration of their project in Egypt.
Exemption from Stamp Duty and Registration Fees: Companies and facilities are exempt from stamp duty, documentation fees, and registration fees for company establishment contracts, credit facility agreements, and mortgages related to their operations for five years from their commercial registration date, excluding companies in free zones.
Land Registration Fee Exemption: Exemption from taxes and fees for land registration contracts necessary to establish companies and facilities.
Duty-Free Imports for Industrial Projects: Industrial projects covered by this law are allowed to import molds, dies, and other similar production materials without customs duties for temporary use in manufacturing their products, with the option to re-export them.
Free Land Allocation for Strategic Activities: Free land allocation for certain strategic activities under Egyptian law.

Large Consumer Market and Unique Population Distribution:

Egypt is classified as the most populous country in Africa and the Middle East, with a population of approximately 104 million as of 2023. The increase in GDP per capita, high private consumption contribution to GDP, and growing local demand for all product types have led to:
High Demand for Global Products: The influx of products from major global companies into Egypt’s consumer market.
Large Young Population with High Consumption Tendency: The significant youth demographic with high consumption tendencies serves as an incentive for any investor to enter the Egyptian market.
Significant Growth in Retail Sales: Egypt has seen a noticeable increase in retail market sales.

Skilled Labor and Competitive Wages:

Egypt’s competitiveness in human resources is evident in its ability to:
Provide Skilled and Trained Labor: Skilled and trained labor is available in various technical and industrial fields.
Competitive Wage Levels: Wages in Egypt are lower than those in many other countries.
High-Quality Workforce: The Egyptian workforce, estimated at around 29.985 million employees by the end of the second quarter of 2022, is among the most skilled in the Middle East over the past few decades.
Regional Source for Skilled Labor: Egypt serves as a primary regional source of skilled labor in sectors such as telecommunications, information technology, financial services, and tourism, especially with national programs focused on workforce training.
Distinctive Skilled Workforce: Egypt is distinguished by its skilled workforce with competitive wage levels compared to other countries.
Labor Exports: Approximately three million Egyptians are employed abroad, according to studies by the International Organization for Migration.