During her speech at the launch of the Annual Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025) by “Entlaq”…

During her speech at the launch of the Annual Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025) by “Entlaq”…

Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and Chair of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship:

Startups are a key driver of economic development… Despite challenges, Egyptian startups have attracted $2.2 billion in venture capital investments since 2020.

Soon, launch of a package of incentive measures and policies as part of the Startups Charter in Egypt.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and Chair of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, affirmed that startups have become one of the main drivers of economic development by providing innovative solutions to development challenges, creating decent job opportunities, and promoting knowledge- and technology-based growth.

This came during her speech at the annual conference of “Entlaq” to launch the 3rd edition of the Annual Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025), held in El Gouna, under the auspices of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

Al-Mashat explained that despite the successive challenges faced by the Egyptian economy in recent years, startups in Egypt have witnessed unprecedented growth. Since 2020, this sector has attracted investments worth $2.2 billion, which is seven times the volume achieved during the period 2015–2019.

She noted that the value of announced investments in startups during the first eight months of this year reached $254 million, with a 17% increase in the total number of deals compared to the same period last year. This, she stressed, is a clear indicator of the growing appetite for investment in innovative solutions and the ability of startups to expand their reach across society.

H.E. continued: “Recognizing the importance of this role, the Egyptian government is paying increasing attention to supporting entrepreneurship as one of the key pillars for achieving sustainable growth and building a more competitive economy, as confirmed in Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience, which aims to transition towards a productivity-driven economic model by empowering the private sector, consolidating macroeconomic stability, and advancing structural reforms and policies that stimulate this transformation.”

The Minister emphasized that this government interest was reflected in the launch of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, pursuant to a decision by H.E. the Prime Minister. The group includes all relevant ministers and authorities, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of startups and the entrepreneurial environment to achieve sustainable and accelerated economic growth based on competitiveness and knowledge, thereby contributing to job creation.

Al-Mashat highlighted that since its formation, the Ministerial Group has worked in a participatory manner with the startup community and in line with international best practices. Working groups were formed to include representatives of the entrepreneurship ecosystem—startup founders, investors, support organizations, parliamentarians, and civil society organizations.

She further noted that the Ministerial Group and its technical secretariat have held successive meetings since its launch, engaging in extensive consultations and coordination. This process resulted in the formulation of more than 70 incentive policies for startups in coordination with 19 government entities. These include simplifying government procedures, supporting the international expansion of local startups, and enhancing their participation in government projects.

The efforts also include developing an electronic platform for startup registration and licensing, as well as a unified financing initiative to align government and private-sector efforts to support more than 5,000 startups. This includes fintech companies that empower women economically, enhance social and environmental impact, and generate around 500,000 direct and indirect job opportunities. In addition, a unified definition of startups has been developed to ensure resources and incentives reach actual beneficiaries.

The Minister added that the Ministerial Group is also preparing a guide for government services and licenses for startups, covering 14 rapidly growing sectors. The guide will include sector-specific data, required documents, timeframes, legal frameworks, and estimated costs for each license, thereby increasing clarity and transparency of procedures for entrepreneurs. She confirmed that the final touches are being made to launch these measures officially within one package under the framework of the Startup Charter in Egypt.

Dr. Al-Mashat praised the efforts of Entlaq, noting that the annual report serves not only as a reference for monitoring entrepreneurship indicators in Egypt but also as a practical tool to support policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs. She further commended the company’s active role within the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship as part of its broader participatory approach.