U.S.-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum Kicks Off in Cairo with Strong Emphasis on Investment, Private Sector Empowerment
Ahmed Emam
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.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
News
Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content
Arts & Culture
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Sports
Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
News
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies
Arts & Culture
New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Arts & Culture
Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
19 minutes ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt, Cyprus Conduct Joint Military Training "Ptolemy 2025"
Taarek Refaat Elements of the Egyptian and Cypriot Special Forces conducted the "Ptolemy 2025" joint training exercise, which lasted for several days in Cyprus. The training included a number of theoretical lectures on various topics to exchange combat experiences, achieve integration and cohesion, unify operational concepts, and hone skills among the participating forces. A number of practical training activities were also conducted, highlighting the field skills of the Egyptian and Cypriot Special Forces, enabling them to carry out all assigned tasks with efficiency and competence. In addition, a number of standard and non-standard shooting exercises were conducted, reflecting the professional level of the participating forces from both sides. The training came within the framework of the joint training plan of the armed forces with friendly and sister countries, to support cooperation in various military fields. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
See - Sada Elbalad
19 minutes ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
CAPMAS: Egypt's Exports to UAE Jump 46.9%
Taarek Refaat The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced that Egyptian exports to the UAE rose to $3.3 billion in 2024, compared to $2.2 billion, year-on-year, a 46.9% increase. CAPMAS added that trade exchange between Egypt and the UAE also reached $6 billion during the same year. In a statement issued on the occasion of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Abu Dhabi Wednesday, the agency explained that Egyptian exports to the UAE increased to $3.3 billion in 2024, compared to $2.2 billion, a year earlier, with a 46.9% increase. While Egyptian imports from the UAE reached $2.7 billion in 2024, compared to $2.3 billion in 2023, a 16.8% increase. The agency's data also showed that the value of trade between Egypt and the UAE increased to $6 billion in 2024, compared to $4.5 billion in 2023, a 31.6% increase. The value of Emirati investments in Egypt reached $38.9 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, compared to $3 billion in the 2022/23 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the value of Egyptian investments in the UAE reached $1.4 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, compared to $1.7 billion in the 2022/23 fiscal year. The value of remittances from Egyptians working in the UAE reached $1.8 billion during the FY2023/24 compared to $2.1 billion during the FY2022/23. Meanwhile, the value of remittances from Emiratis working in Egypt reached $31.6 million during the FYFY2022/23. Egypt's population reached 107.7 million in June 2025, while the UAE's population reached 11.3 million during the same period. According to official mission estimates, the number of Egyptians residing in the UAE reached 975,000 by the end of 2023. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
See - Sada Elbalad
2 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Scatec's Egypt Green Hydrogen Project signed 20-year offtake agreement with Fertiglobe, based on H2Global award
SeeNews Scatec ASA's Egypt Green Hydrogen project, in partnership with Fertiglobe, Orascom Construction, The Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, reaches a key milestone, after Fertiglobe secured a green ammonia offtake agreement with Hintco in Germany, through the first ever H2Global auction. Based on the award, Fertiglobe and Egypt Green Hydrogen have entered into a 20-year ammonia offtake agreement. The agreement was signed at the Egypt-EU Investment Conference in Egypt on 29 June 2024. 'The H2Global award represents a key milestone for the Egypt Green Hydrogen project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. This demonstrates the competitiveness of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Egypt, driven by its abundant renewable energy resources and strategic geographical location. We are grateful for the Egyptian government´s leading role in supporting this pioneering project and we look forward to continuing to work with the relevant stakeholders to establish Egypt as a regional green hydrogen hub. With Fertiglobe securing an offtake agreement for the ammonia, Egypt Green Hydrogen will accelerate the project's development and advance it towards financial close,' says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog. In 2021, Scatec and partners agreed to develop, build, own and operate a 100 MW electrolyser facility to produce renewable hydrogen to be used as feedstock for the production of renewable ammonia at Fertiglobe's existing ammonia plant in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The project will be powered by about 270 MW of solar and wind power capacity and deliver approximately 13,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen and up to 74,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia annually. Scatec is the lead developer and majority sponsor of Egypt Green Hydrogen with an ownership share of 52% and will provide EPC services in collaboration with Orascom Construction. Scatec will further provide O&M and Asset Management services for the project alongside key technology providers and project partners. Next important milestones for the project are to select the electrolyser supplier and complete the project financing process with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Germany's development finance institution and KfW subsidiary DEG, British International Investment (BII), and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), that are providing competitive financing to support the first green hydrogen and ammonia project in Egypt. The partners expect to reach financial close in the first half of 2025. Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of Fertiglobe, said: 'This award marks a significant milestone for Fertiglobe in advancing sustainable ammonia production and a further critical step towards FID of Egypt Green Hydrogen, expected in H1 2025. Our selection as the winning bidder in H2Global's pilot auction underscores our leadership in supplying low-carbon products and our commitment to shaping a more sustainable future, and I appreciate the work of our incredible team to make this award possible. We are leveraging this vital program which makes our investment in sustainable ammonia economically viable, supporting critical decarbonization technology, while maintaining our disciplined growth strategy.' Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, said: 'Green hydrogen has a key role to play in the energy transition and in providing carbon-neutral solutions for industry. The first offtake agreement for hydrogen produced in Egypt, agreed at the Egypt-EU Investment Conference, represents a key step for future large-scale investment in the sector. The European Investment Bank looks forward to strengthening our cooperation with Scatec, Egyptian and international partners to mobilise investment for large-scale renewable hydrogen production in Egypt.' Nandita Parshad, Managing Director of the EBRD's Sustainable Infrastructure Group, said: 'The signing of the offtake agreement is a key milestone for the Egypt Green Hydrogen project with our long standing clients Scatec and Orascom Construction, as well as the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and Fertiglobe. The EBRD is proud to support this pioneering project which will produce 13,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually and demonstrate the commercial viability of renewable Hydrogen in Egypt.' Monika Beck, Managing Director at DEG, commented: 'It is part of DEG's mission as an impact and climate financier to promote green hydrogen as a driver of green transformation. We are delighted to contribute to mobilizing investment in this milestone project in Egypt together with our esteemed client Scatec and our development finance partner institutions. We are convinced that it is essential to join forces to drive forward the green transformation, and the private sector plays a key role in this.' Iain Macaulay, Director and Head of Project Finance in Africa at BII, said: 'Egypt has the potential to be a global leader in renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production. I am delighted that BII has been able to provide project finance to back this landmark project, that will support a green and sustainable future for the country and showcase the importance of new technologies in supporting a just transition for the whole African continent.' The project is located in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), which seeks to become a major hub for green hydrogen industries. Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chairman of SCZONE, said: 'The Egypt-EU Investment Conference 2024, marked a vital milestone on Egypt's pathway to become a global green ammonia hub, as we celebrated the signing of a flagship offtake agreement between Fertiglobe and Egypt Green Hydrogen, the first green hydrogen plant in Africa, located at the SCZONE. As first agreement under H2Global auction, the offtake not only demonstrates the EU support to the emerging green hydrogen industry and the realization of Egypt's potential, but additionally emphasizes Egypt's determination to reach its vision, and showcase its comparative advantage stemming from its abundant renewables resources, industrial land, and its unique geographic location with ease of access to the world. The agreement is a testimony of Egypt's leadership and support in mobilizing its resources to attract foreign direct investments in green projects through the facilitation provided by its stakeholders.' The H2Global Foundation was established in 2021 to accelerate the emergence of markets for clean hydrogen and other zero-and low-emission technologies worldwide. It does so through market-based instruments, such as the H2Global mechanism, implemented by its subsidiary Hintco. The German Federal Government has committed EUR 4.43 billion into this initiative. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
