'I see Egypt assuming its natural and leading role asa link between East and West, North and South'

Egypt has been actively pursuing a decade-long economic reform program, aiming to boost investor confidence and ensure macroeconomic stability. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasized that the key to successful reform lies in the comprehensive implementation of various policies, such as fiscal discipline, private sector empowerment, tax system reforms, infrastructure development, industrial growth, digital transformation, human capital development, and entrepreneurship support.

He highlighted that all these reforms must proceed side by side to foster a stable, competitive, and predictable economic environment.

Three main pillars have been the foundation of Egypt's economic reform: enabling the private sector to capitalize on investment opportunities in the domestic market, developing integrated infrastructure, and achieving macroeconomic stability through fiscal and monetary policies aimed at economic growth, exchange rate stability, foreign currency reserves, and the reduction of inflation and debt rates.

These efforts have contributed to restoring confidence in the foreign exchange market and achieving growth rates of 5.3% in the first half of the current fiscal year. Egypt's economic reforms have received praise from international institutions and credit rating agencies, with several raising Egypt's credit rating despite global shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical volatility.

International investors' confidence in Egypt's economic story primarily stems from its political stability, which creates a predictable environment for long-term investment decisions. However, Egypt's active involvement in addressing regional and global crises further strengthens its credibility as a reliable pillar of stability.

Moreover, the government's unwavering commitment to continuing the economic reform program provides investors with a clear vision of future economic policy trajectories, which has proven to be efficient in overcoming successive crises, enhancing the economy's flexibility, and enabling it to withstand crisis repercussions.

Investors are drawn to Egypt's promising and enduring prospects, including a massive domestic market of over 110 million consumers, a large, educated workforce with competitive labor costs, particularly in manufacturing and services, and a strategic location as a logistical hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Egypt's membership in numerous free trade agreements further enhances its appeal.

Significant investments in infrastructure, such as building economic zones, modernizing road, transport, and port networks, and transitioning to new and renewable energy sources, have been instrumental in providing the necessary incentives for investor attraction.

El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt's infrastructure transformation reflects positively on long-term productivity and private sector growth. The country has been focusing on raising infrastructure efficiency nationwide, not just through isolated projects but by building an integrated, modern ecosystem of new cities, production hubs, industrial zones, ports, and logistics centers.

Connectivity between local markets and regional or international ones has been improved through an integrated national network. Egypt currently boasts 55 ports, including commercial and specialized ports, and is executing a national plan to establish 31 dry ports and logistics zones, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for trade and logistics.

These infrastructure projects have helped improve Egypt's competitiveness, reduce transport and logistics costs, and enhance the overall economic environment for private sector growth.