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Egyptian Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk confirmed that bilateral economic relations between Egypt and Switzerland are experiencing rapid, sustainable growth. Speaking at the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s (SwissCham Egypt) 2026 Annual Gala, Kouchouk highlighted the robust footprint of major Swiss corporations, noting that their operations have become an integral, vital component of Egypt’s national economy by optimizing supply chain efficiencies, injecting foreign direct investment (FDI), and generating sustainable employment opportunities.

The high-level institutional gathering was hosted at the official residence of the Swiss Ambassador to Egypt under the thematic banner, "Two Nations.. One Shared Impact – A Legacy Beyond Generations." The event convened an elite assembly of senior government officials, diplomatic corps, multinational chief executives, and institutional partners to celebrate the bilateral economic alliance and reinforce mutual commitments to sustainable development, corporate governance, and long-term industrial cooperation.

Corporate Empowerment and Historic Financial Reforms

During his keynote address, Minister Kouchouk reaffirmed the Egyptian state's priority to empower the private sector, characterizing it as the primary engine for sustainable economic growth, innovation, and structural stability.

Kouchouk also presided over a milestone honoring ceremony during the gala, which selected Dr. Youssef Boutros-Ghali—acclaimed economist and former Minister of Finance—as the 2026 recipient of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Egypt’s Distinguished Leadership Award. The accolade recognizes Boutros-Ghali's historic contributions to structuring Egypt's modern macroeconomic policies and financial reforms during his tenure at the helm of the Ministry of Finance. Kouchouk expressed personal pride in having developed his financial expertise under Boutros-Ghali's veteran mentorship.

The gala drew significant ministerial and regulatory participation, including:

Dr. Mahmoud Esmat (Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy)

Dr. Andreas Baum (Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt)

Dr. Hisham Azmi (President of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority)

Dr. Tarek El-Houby (Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority)

Ahmed Amawy (Head of the Egyptian Customs Authority)

Dr. Rasha Abdel-Aal (Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority)

Dr. Abdel Aziz El-Sherif (Head of the Egyptian Commercial Representation)

Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar (President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport)

Dr. Sherif Saleh (President of Port Said University)

Kamal Abdel Malek (President of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Egypt)

Macroeconomic Frameworks and Corporate Social Responsibility

Swiss Ambassador Dr. Andreas Baum and SwissCham President Kamal Abdel Malek delivered strategic briefs mapping the formalization of bilateral dialogue channels. They cited the recent Joint Economic Committee meeting in Bern and the inaugural Egypt-Swiss Economic Forum in Cairo as foundational pillars that have successfully converted public policy into active private sector investments.

Reflecting an institutional commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Chamber announced the allocation of a percentage of the event's proceeds to support Al Nas Hospital, a leading non-profit charitable medical facility delivering free, high-quality pediatric cardiovascular surgery and healthcare services.

The economic dialogue featured panel inputs from senior industrial executives, including Ahmed Hammad (Chairman of ABB Egypt), Khaled El-Dokani (CEO of Lafarge Egypt – Holcim), Jihan El-Morr (Chairperson of Novartis Egypt), Stefano Mazzioni (General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals Egypt), Todd Wilcox (CEO and Deputy Chairman of HSBC Egypt), and Adham El-Mahdy (General Manager of Geocycle).

Sustained Bilateral Trade Metrics

Statistical data compiled by trade ministries underscores Switzerland’s position as a top-ten foreign investor in Egypt. Total bilateral trade volume between the two sovereign nations reached $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Currently, more than 500 Swiss corporate entities maintain active operational nodes within the Egyptian market, sustaining over 25,000 direct localized jobs and driving technological integration across West Cairo's expanding industrial and logistics networks.