Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation at the Venture Capital Summit

The Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship reflects strong governmental interest in creating a business environment conducive to the growth of startups.

Intensive and ongoing meetings of working groups to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Sustainable economic growth will not be achieved without effective partnerships with the private sector and empowering business communities, including startups.

The Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship has completed the unified definition for startups and a number of proposed incentives for the sector.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in the third edition of Egypt's Venture Investment Summit 2025, which aims to increase foreign direct investment by bringing together global investors and regional venture capital funds.

The summit is organized by the Egyptian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EPEA) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), with the attendance of Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mr. Bassel Rahmy, Head of MSMEDA, Dr. Mohamed Fayed, Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority, Ahmed El-Alfi, Chairman of Sawari Ventures, and Stephane Gimbert, Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti at the World Bank, along with several business accelerators and stakeholders in the startup community.

In her speech during the opening session, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat noted that over the past five years, startups in Egypt have raised nearly $2 billion in venture capital funding, reflecting the promising entrepreneurial spirit of our talented youth and the resilience of our economy. She pointed out that despite global challenges, Egypt still ranks third in both Africa and the Middle East in terms of venture capital funding and deal execution.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized that this performance reflects investors' confidence in the Egyptian market, with promising potential in the coming years for these startups to grow, secure larger deals, and achieve success, which will attract more funding.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that venture capital is critical as access to financing remains one of the main constraints facing startups, providing flexible financial solutions that can fuel rapidly growing, tech-driven startups.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that the Egyptian government has taken significant steps to empower startups and enhance their ability to attract larger investments. Among the most prominent of these steps is the formation of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, which adopts a comprehensive and integrated approach to support young Egyptians in the field of entrepreneurship. The primary goal of establishing this ministerial group is to enhance the ability of startups and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to achieve sustainable, competitive, and knowledge-based economic growth, thereby contributing to the creation of decent job opportunities.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat added that within the framework of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, the group works through its technical secretariat and four working groups to discuss a set of proposed tax and financial incentives to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem and attract more foreign investments. Discussions focus on mechanisms to activate incentives that encourage large companies to invest in startups and foster partnerships between the two. Different stakeholders are involved in these discussions to formulate incentives that will benefit the startup community.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also mentioned working on finalizing the "Startup Charter" as part of these efforts, which will provide a clear roadmap that boosts investor confidence by detailing specific incentives, legal frameworks, and simplified processes for startups and their investors in Egypt.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation launched the “HAFIZ” Platform for Financial, and technical support for the private sector. Through this platform, the ministry provides technical support in addition to financing for various private sector entities, including large companies, SMEs, and startups. The platform offers more than 90 financial and consulting services in one place, encouraging startups and other private sector companies to explore the opportunities it offers.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat concluded her speech by emphasizing that achieving sustainable economic development relies on technology and innovation. Therefore, all concerned parties must collaborate to create an ecosystem capable of attracting venture capital and driving long-term growth. She explained that Egypt is a promising market and a key gateway between Africa and the Middle East for venture capital investments.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also touched on the growth of the Egyptian economy and the state's efforts to enhance macroeconomic stability, which can only be achieved through sustainable growth involving the private sector, including startups. The government is working on implementing the National Program for Structural Reforms to improve the business environment, empower the private sector, and open up avenues for diverse investments.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat referred to the role of the Ministry in mobilizing funding, whether from local or international sources, to achieve sustainable economic development, and to strengthen international partnerships not only for financing but also for providing consulting and technical support to various sectors.

During the summit, ministers toured the Entrepreneurs’ Center set up on the sidelines of the summit, where they were briefed on the services provided to the entrepreneurs participating in the event. They also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between MSMEDA and EPEA.