U.S.-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum Kicks Off in Cairo with Strong Emphasis on Investment, Private Sector Empowerment

The U.S.-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum kicked off in Cairo, bringing together top government officials and senior executives to advance economic cooperation and investment opportunities between the two nations. 

The two-day forum, hosted at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, features the participation of Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, nine cabinet ministers — including the full economic team — and the head of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Leading the discussions was Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, who delivered a keynote address outlining Egypt’s bold reform agenda aimed at enhancing the country’s investment climate and empowering the private sector as a driver of sustainable growth.

“The business environment in Egypt is becoming increasingly stable and attractive for American investors,” El-Khatib stated. “Our government is committed to building a predictable, transparent ecosystem that encourages long-term investments.”

He detailed a suite of recent economic reforms, including the adoption of a flexible exchange rate, regulatory streamlining, and the launch of a pilot digital platform offering over 380 licensing services to facilitate business operations. El-Khatib also announced that Egypt will soon unveil a new trade policy by the end of June, designed to reduce foreign trade transaction costs and time by up to 75%, positioning Egypt more competitively on the global stage.

The minister highlighted measures to modernize Egypt’s tax system, reduce non-tax burdens on companies, and consolidate fee-collecting agencies to reduce bureaucracy and improve transparency. 

Furthermore, he noted that Egypt has recently approved the recognition of U.S.-certified Halal certificates and slashed related fees by up to 50% to streamline market access for American goods.

Reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to free trade and private sector engagement, El-Khatib said the government is transferring state-owned assets to the Sovereign Fund of Egypt to maximize their value and create new public-private partnerships, in line with the structural reform agenda.

“Egypt is a uniquely positioned investment hub with modern infrastructure, a skilled labor force, and a diversified economy,” El-Khatib said, citing over \$550 billion invested in infrastructure over the past decade. He pointed to promising sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, tourism, and information technology as priority areas for collaboration.

The forum hosts a high-level U.S. delegation comprising 79 executives representing 51 major American companies, alongside representatives from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

The event reflects the strategic depth of U.S.-Egypt relations and underscores the shared commitment to strengthening direct dialogue between policymakers and investors. As Egypt advances its reform program, the forum serves as a platform to explore new avenues for trade, investment, and economic partnership.