Hapi_ Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, participated in the session entitled “Foreign Exchange Resources and Debt Management,” as part of the Egypt 2026 Forum events. The discussions addressed ways to enhance foreign exchange resources and support the sustainability of external debt management by increasing exports, deepening local manufacturing, attracting productive investments, and facilitating the business environment.
Mohamed Farid emphasized that any reform process must be based on a detailed data analysis, which helps identify actual challenges, formulate appropriate policies to address them, and achieve tangible results on the ground.
The Minister explained that enhancing foreign exchange resources begins with increasing the productive and export capacity of the Egyptian economy, pointing out that exports represent one of the sustainable sources of foreign exchange growth. He added that raising the competitiveness of Egyptian products and increasing value-added contribute to enhancing the economy's ability to meet its financing needs.
He noted the importance of expanding the base of Egyptian exporters and providing opportunities for more companies to enter foreign markets, thereby contributing to the diversification of products and export markets and increasing the contribution of exports to providing foreign exchange resources.
Minister of Investment: Facilitating Investor Procedures and Reducing Trade Costs to Support Exports
He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the services available to exporters and facilitating their access to them, alongside reducing trade costs and the time required to complete procedures, developing inspection and testing services, and expanding digital services provided to companies.
Mohamed Farid stressed that no one with a desire to invest or export should be forced to wait, affirming that the state is working in a unified direction to facilitate the investor's journey, simplify procedures, and enable them to easily apply for the required services and licenses.
He explained that the Ministry is working on developing a system of digital platforms that contribute to facilitating the investor's journey, including the economic entities platform, thereby supporting procedural simplification and improving the experience of clients dealing with relevant government entities.
The Minister noted the importance of implementing electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC) mechanisms, which contribute to facilitating company establishment procedures, easing the entry of foreign investors into the Egyptian market, and leveraging digital solutions to minimize the time and effort required to complete procedures.
Mohamed Farid affirmed that the Ministry is working on finalizing a foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy in cooperation with the World Bank. This strategy aims to identify priority sectors for promotion where Egypt possesses competitive advantages, thereby contributing to increasing the volume of foreign investments, expanding the productive base, deepening local manufacturing, and boosting export capacity.
He explained that directing investments toward promising productive sectors represents a vital pathway for increasing value-added and creating job opportunities.
The Minister pointed out that one of the challenges lies in the assumption by each entity that investors and company owners of all sizes are already aware of all the services it provides, which may prevent companies from benefiting from the available capabilities to support their activities.
Dr. Farid: Launching the "Egypt Sets Off with Export" Initiative to Expand the Exporter Base
In this context, he noted the launch of the “Egypt Sets Off with Export” initiative to raise awareness about the services provided by entities affiliated with the Ministry and other relevant authorities, and to help companies and exporters understand the available services and how to benefit from them. This contributes to facilitating export procedures and expanding the base of companies capable of entering foreign markets.
Minister of Investment: Importing Production Inputs and Technology Supports Local Industry and Exports
The Minister stressed the importance of distinguishing between imports used in production and technology as production inputs. He explained that importing production inputs and technology supports local industry and enhances its capacity for expansion and export; consequently, the handling of imports must take into account their role in the production process.
Mohamed Farid concluded by emphasizing that the sustainability of external debt management is intrinsically linked to the economy's capacity to generate regular foreign exchange resources through increasing exports, attracting productive investments, and improving the trade balance, thereby bolstering the Egyptian economy's ability to fulfill its external obligations in a sustainable manner.
