The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Meets with White Star Capital Founder to Explore Investment Opportunities in Egypt’s Entrepreneurship Sector
19 September 2024
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic
Development, and International Cooperation, met with Mr. Eric Martineau-Fortin,
Founder and Managing Partner of White Star Capital, and Mr. Mohamed El Kalash,
Vice President of the firm. White Star Capital is an international fund
specializing in entrepreneurship and technology investments, with a presence in
North America, Europe, and Asia. The meeting focused on exploring potential
collaboration to boost entrepreneurship and innovation in Egypt.
The discussion centered on the investment opportunities
available to White Star Capital, considering Egypt’s comparative advantages
that attract both local and foreign investments across various sectors.
During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat highlighted
the state’s current priorities, emphasizing the government’s efforts to empower
the private sector, enhance the investment environment, and open the door for
increased local and foreign private sector participation. This, in turn, aims
to expand investments and bolster macroeconomic stability. She pointed out that
the government has launched an ambitious economic and structural reform program
to promote inclusive economic growth and overcome the challenges facing Egypt’s
economy.
Al-Mashat also underscored the importance the state places
on entrepreneurship, noting the recent formation of the Ministerial Committee
for Entrepreneurship, which H.E. chairs. This committee is dedicated to
enhancing the capacity of startups and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to achieve
sustainable and accelerated economic growth, driven by competitiveness and
knowledge, while creating decent employment opportunities.
The minister further emphasized the positive impact of
supporting and promoting entrepreneurship, such as creating new job
opportunities, reducing unemployment, and stimulating local economies.
Additionally, entrepreneurship accelerates technological advancements, improves
local industries, and strengthens productive capacities, fostering a more
competitive economic environment. Successful international startups also
attract more investments, enhancing the region’s economic framework and making
it more appealing for future investments. Moreover, cooperation with local
talents facilitates knowledge and skills transfer.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted the ministry’s role in
managing public spending and fostering collaboration between Egypt and its
multilateral and bilateral development partners, creating synergies to drive
economic development and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of ongoing
projects.
During the meeting, Mr. Eric Martineau-Fortin, Founder and
Managing Partner of White Star Capital, applauded Egypt’s potential in
entrepreneurship and innovation, noting that Egypt is one of the key markets in
the Middle East and North Africa region for attracting investments in startups.
He expressed his interest in the government’s efforts to enhance startup and
entrepreneurship investments, which present significant opportunities for
collaboration.
He further explained that White Star Capital’s portfolio
includes several companies that have shown interest in the Egyptian market,
particularly due to the government’s strong support for entrepreneurship and
the competitive nature of Egypt’s human capital.
It is worth noting that White Star Capital is a global
multi-stage technology investment platform founded in 2007. The firm manages
over $1.3 billion in assets and strategically invests in diverse sectors,
including mobility, logistics, industrial technology, digital health, and
fintech. With offices in major cities such as New York, London, Toronto, and
Dubai, White Star Capital enables ambitious entrepreneurs to succeed in global
business markets.