Prior to the political crisis, Egypt was a very attractive Middle Eastern market for FDI. The dynamic growth of the Egyptian economy (around 7% before the crisis), its strategic geographical position, low labor costs, skilled workforce, unique tourist potential, substantial energy reserves, large domestic market and the success of the reforms undertaken by the authorities (including many privatizations) all sharply drove up FDI. The regional context must also be taken into account, as Egypt benefited from abundant liquidity coming from the Gulf States. FDI decreased sharply as a result of the global economic crisis and following the socio-political revolution of 2011, but has been growing since at a steady rate. According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2018, inward investment flows decreased slightly by 9% between 2016 and 2017, a moderate decline from the global trend. FDI inflows in 2017 amount to USD 7,391 million. The rise in Chinese investment in manufacturing industries and the fact that government reforms are beginning to pay offset the decline in commodity prices. In 2017, Egypt remained the largest recipient of FDI inflows in Africa. The stock of FDI between 2016 and 2017 increased from USD 102 to 109 billion. According to the Central Bank of Egypt, FDI inflows rose to USD 10.2 billion, while outflows were at USD 4.2, pushing net FDI inflows to USD 6.0 billion between July 2017 and March 2018. At the same time, portfolio investment in Egypt picked up, bringing total foreign investment to USD 14.9 billion. Inflows to Egypt, to its hydrocarbons sector in particular, have been increasing constantly since the discovery of gas reserves first in the country’s western desert then in the Zohr offshore field, the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. Net inflows targeting the oil industry grew by 1.6% to USD 3.4 billion from July 2017 to March 2018. FDI comes mainly from the EU, the United States and the Arab countries. The UK is by far the largest investor in Egypt. FDI is concentrated in the oil sector, followed by construction, manufacturing, real estate and financial services sectors.
Egypt adopted in 2017 the Investment Law with performance requirements, including labor-intensive projects and geographical location of certain investment incentives. The government has also set up special economic zones, to attract FDI, where the regulations are different: more liberal, more efficient administration, tax incentives, facilitation of registration and customs procedures, better infrastructure etc. However, outside these areas, it is difficult to register a new company, and instability in the country is hindering business developments in Egypt. Egypt ranked 120th out 190 countries in the 2019 Doing Business report of the World Bank, gaining eight spots compared to the previous year.
| Foreign Direct Investment | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
| FDI Inward Flow (million USD) | 8,107 | 7,409 | 6,798 |
| FDI Stock (million USD) | 102,324 | 109,677 | 116,385 |
| Number of Greenfield Investments*** | 79 | 93 | 91 |
Source: UNCTAD, Latest available data.
FDI INFLOWS BY COUNTRY AND INDUSTRY
| Main Investing Countries | 2016-2017, in % | |
| Main Invested Sectors | 2016-2017, in % | |
| UK | 41.2 | |
| Belgium | 14.9 | |
| USA | 13.7 | |
| UAE | 6.3 | |
| France | 4.0 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2.6 | |
| Oil sector | 66.3 | |
| Manufacturing | 10.2 | |
| Construction | 4.3 | |
| Communication | 3.9 | |
| Real estate | 2.5 | |
| Finance | 2.1 | |
Source: Central Bank of Egypt, External Position Document Volume 61, 2017-2018 – Latest available data.
What to consider if you invest in Egypt
Strong Points Advantages for FDI in Egypt:
- Strategic geographic location
- Low-cost and relatively qualified labor force
- Growing population (more than 95 million inhabitants) that makes Egypt a strategic market in the region
- High tourism potential
- Important energy resources, notably natural gas
- Public works policy, which offers many investment opportunities to foreign companies
- A sufficiently diversified economy (energy, tourism, Suez Canal revenues, industrial base, etc.)
- Government policy that aims at improving the business climate
Weak Points Disadvantages for FDI in Egypt:
- Political situation that remains tense and arouses uncertainty for foreign investors
- Degraded regional security situation
- Fragile banking sector
- High poverty rate and persistent unemployment
- Infrastructure that remains insufficient
- Omnipresent public sector and excessive bureaucracy
- Shortage of skilled labour
- Cumbersome customs procedures and non-tariff trade barriers
Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI
Since September 2004,
the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) has established an
economic program to attract foreign investors, together with an average
reduction of 35% customs duties and tariff simplification. Since 2016, Egypt
enjoys the support of the FMI to put into place economic reforms (new VAT rate,
reduction of subsidies on fuel and electricity, etc.). It shows the
government’s willingness to improve the business climate, which remains
complex. Thus, after the Revolution, Egypt put into place restrictions on
capital transfer. Investors are claiming that the approval of transfers may
take several weeks.
Several “megaprojects”
may attract foreign investors in the coming years. Siemens already developed the largest gas power generation
plant in the world, Egypt also plans to develop a large logistic and industrial
platform around the Suez Canal, a new administrative capital city and
large agrarian and mining projects.
In most sectors, foreigners benefit from the same treatment as nationals. A
joint venture is needed to operate in certain sectors, namely hydrocarbons and
real estate. In 2016, the Law on Imports and Exports was amended to allow
enterprises to be 51% Egyptian-owned to import (before, the enterprises
had to be 100% Egyptian owned). At the end of 2016 the Supreme Council for investment announced 17
presidential decrees which included tax exemptions in certain manufacturing,
agrarian and industrials sectors regarded as strategic. The government intends
to enact a new law on investment.
More information on governmental measures to attract FDI in Egypt is available
on the website of the General Authority for Investment,
which developed a special desk for investors.
Protection of Foreign Investment
Bilateral Investment Conventions Signed By Egypt
Egypt has signed
bilateral agreements with more than a hundred countries, including most of the
European Union countries, the United States and several African countries, the
Middle-East and Asia. On the Mediterranean Basin, Egypt has signed
bilateral conventions with Algeria, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Libya,
Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey. In 2010 Egypt signed an
agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Latin American nations.
These conventions can be referred to on the UNCTAD website.
International Controversies Registered By UNCTAD
Consult the Doing Business in Egypt’s Guide.
Member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
Egypt is a signatory of the MIGA Convention.
Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors
| Egypt | Middle East & North Africa | United States | Germany | |
| Index of Transaction Transparency* | 8.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| Index of Manager’s Responsibility** | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
| Index of Shareholders’ Power*** | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 |
| Index of Investor Protection**** | 4.8 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Source: Doing Business – Latest available data.
Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment
Freedom of Establishment
In theory, freedom of establishment is guaranteed in most of Egypt, except for areas in Sinai or that are occupied by the military. In practice, foreign companies can face some discrimination compared to their competitors from the Egyptian public sector. Their main difficulty is to obtain local bank credit, which is still highly controlled by the State.
Acquisition of Holdings
The acquisition of the majority interest in a domestic company is allowed in Egypt. In fact, holding more than 49% of the capital of a local bank has been authorized since the law of 97/1996. ADD MORE DETAIL.
Obligation to Declare
The investor has to declare the following information: the name of the contracting parties, the company’s legal form, the name of the company, the type of activity, the company’s length of existence and its capital, the Egyptian and non-Egyptian contribution percentage, the means of subscription and each partner’s liabilities. For more information, you can consult the GAFI investment guide.
Competent Organization For the Declaration GAFI
Requests For Specific Authorisations
The founders of joint stock and limited liability companies must furnish a bank certificate showing that 10% of the issued capital has been paid up.
Learn more about Foreign Investment in Egypt on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
Office Real Estate and Land Ownership
Risk of Expropriation
The Investment Incentives Law provides guarantees against full or partial expropriation of real estate.
Investment Aid
Forms of Aid
A number of sectors and industries benefit from the government’s incentives and guarantees, such as zero tax over the lifetime of a project. For more information, you can consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Privileged Domains
The most privileged domain is the petroleum sector. But the Egyptian Government has recently lauched a plan to offer investment incentives and guarantees in non-traditional fields such as education, agriculture and land reclamation as well as PPP projects in water and sewage projects. For more information, you can consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Free Zones
There are
investment zones in different regions of the country, as well as free zones and
special economic zones.
The government has targeted Upper Egypt for development by private investors.
Land in industrial zones in Upper Egypt is offered free of charge.
There are no formal geographical restrictions on investments. However, due to
congestion in Cairo, the government generally denies approval for investments
in manufacturing facilities in Cairo.
Organizations Which Finance
You can consult the Ministry of Investment, the National Bank of Egypt and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.
Investment Opportunities
The Key Sectors of the National Economy
Agriculture and food-processing industry, tourism, gas industry, telecommunications and media.
High Potential Sectors
Education (more than 50 million students, at all level of education), franchises, health industry, renewable energy, security services.
Privatization Programmes
Nearly 150
companies are yet to be privatised, among which approximately fifty are in the
textile sector as well as ten airports. Between 1991 and 2008, a privatisation
program has been deployed. After the 2011 Revolution, some members of the
government tried to step back on some privatisation, but these cases have not
yet been settled.
In March 2018, a new privatisation program involving 23 enterprises was
announced. The State hopes to raise 4,6 billion USD by selling its shares in
public companies in banking, oil and real estate sectors.
Tenders, Projects
and Public Procurement Globaltenders, Tenders & Projects from Egypt
Tenders Info, Tenders in Egypt
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide
Sectors Where Investment Opportunities Are Fewer
Monopolistic
Sectors The banking system is exclusively held by the State.
In the telecommunications sector, the state operator Telecom Egypt had a
monopoly until end of 2016 on land lines. Now it is also operating mobile phone
lines and both sectors are open to competition.
Finding Assistance For Further Information
Investment Aid Agency General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt (GAFI)
Other Useful
Resources Egyptian government information website
Economic Developments and
Prospects in Egypt – African Economic Outlook
Doing Business Guides A tax and legal guide for
doing business in Egypt – PwC
Deloitte’s
“International Tax and Business Guide” on Egypt
