GAFI to Launch Initiative Supporting Global Expansion For Egyptian Sta

Egypt’s General Authority for Investment & Free Zones (GAFI) is developing a new initiative to help local startups access foreign markets and secure improved financing opportunities. Hossam Heiba, the Authority’s Chief Executive, outlined the effort during Techne Summit 2025, a gathering of entrepreneurship stakeholders from across Egypt and more than 70 participating countries. “Startups are no longer just small businesses; they are engines of competitiveness, employment, and innovation,” Heiba said. “By enabling them to grow and expand beyond local markets, Egypt is reinforcing its position as a dynamic regional hub for entrepreneurship.” He added that the upcoming initiative will offer practical programmes and executive frameworks to equip young entrepreneurs with tools to operate globally. Detailing existing measures, Heiba highlighted the Authority’s permanent unit for startups and entrepreneurship, which coordinates stakeholders engaged in developing the sector, studies global best practices for adoption in the Egyptian market, collaborates with regional economies to facilitate the expansion of Egyptian startups abroad, and contributes to the technical secretariat of Egypt’s ministerial group for entrepreneurship to support policy alignment and institutional backing. Startup support aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030 priorities, including innovation-driven growth, stronger export capacity, closer links between research institutions and industry, job creation and building a knowledge- and technology-based economy.