Egypt’s Investment Minister Issues New Directives to Remove Barriers and Boost Investment in Upper Egypt
Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, issued a package of decisions and directives during his tour of Luxor and Qena governorates, aiming to remove obstacles facing investment, strengthen the ministry’s institutional presence in Upper Egypt, and accelerate the listing and promotion of investment opportunities.
The decisions included the formation of a joint technical task force comprising representatives from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), Qena Governorate, and in coordination with the Ministry of Transport. The task force is mandated to develop an integrated plan to address challenges facing the Qift Free Zone, with completion scheduled within a maximum of three weeks.
The directives also called for an urgent study to address difficulties related to the access of free zone exports to ports—particularly Safaga Port—and to propose practical solutions to reduce export costs and transit time, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
As part of efforts to reinforce the ministry’s institutional presence in Upper Egypt, El-Khatib instructed an increase in staffing levels at Investor Service Centers affiliated with GAFI across the governorates, with priority given to Qena, to improve service quality and speed up investor procedures.
In addition, representatives from the Foreign Trade Sector and the Egyptian Exhibitions and Conferences Authority were tasked with operating in Upper Egypt to provide direct support to investors, help open new markets for local products, and boost export activities.
The minister further stressed the need to swiftly list investment opportunities in Luxor and Qena on the national investment map, in coordination with GAFI, ensuring transparent and up-to-date access for local and foreign investors.
He also directed coordination with the two governorates to prepare comprehensive feasibility studies for available investment opportunities, paving the way for effective promotion and the attraction of new investments that support economic development and create sustainable job opportunities in Upper Egypt.