GAFI announces a new initiative to enhance global expansion and financing for Egyptian startups.

Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), revealed a new initiative aimed at helping Egyptian startups penetrate foreign markets and secure better financing opportunities. This step highlights Egypt’s growing importance as a leading startup hub in Africa and the Middle East.

Heiba made these remarks during his participation in Techne Summit 2025, a major entrepreneurship event that brought together entrepreneurs and stakeholders from 70 countries. He emphasized the pivotal role of entrepreneurship and innovation in strengthening Egypt’s economic competitiveness. He stated that platforms like Techne are essential for providing startups with the visibility needed to secure investments and partnerships, and to help young people turn innovative ideas into sustainable and successful ventures.

In reviewing GAFI’s efforts to support startups, Heiba highlighted the Authority’s permanent unit for startups and entrepreneurship. This unit plays a key role in coordinating all relevant stakeholders, researching global best practices for adoption in the Egyptian market, and collaborating with regional economies to facilitate the international expansion of Egyptian companies. It also supports the work of Egypt’s ministerial group for entrepreneurship to ensure policy coherence.

Heiba stressed that supporting startups is fundamental to achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030 goals, which prioritize innovation-driven growth, enhanced export capacity, stronger linkages between research institutions and industrial groups, job creation, and the development of a knowledge- and technology-based economy.

He concluded by noting that startups “are no longer just small businesses; they are engines of competitiveness, employment, and innovation,” affirming that the upcoming initiative will provide practical programs and executive frameworks to equip young entrepreneurs with the tools needed to thrive globally, further strengthening Egypt’s position as a dynamic regional hub for entrepreneurship.