Private sector secures 60% of investments as economic risk falls, Egypt finance minister tells premier

Egypt’s private sector now accounts for nearly 60% of total investments as improving economic indicators push international risk assessments to their lowest levels since 2014, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk told Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Monday. The minister credited recent state-led economic reforms with boosting investor confidence and said strong activity across multiple sectors has cemented the private sector’s role in driving growth.

"The private sector currently accounts for nearly 60% of total investments in Egypt," Kouchouk said while briefing the prime minister, highlighting a shift in the balance of investment toward non-state actors as macroeconomic risks decline.

Kouchouk detailed that the upturn in private-sector participation spans several key industries, naming industrial, telecommunications, information technology and tourism as areas of particularly strong recent activity. He said these trends reflect more favourable international risk assessments — at their lowest since 2014 — which have encouraged both domestic and foreign investors to increase commitments.

The finance minister outlined ongoing government efforts to underpin the private sector’s expansion through targeted tax and customs incentives designed to stimulate production and create jobs. He stressed the importance of integrating state mechanisms to further enhance the flow of investment and improve the economy’s capacity to attract foreign capital.

Planned tax facilitation and digital services

As part of a wider push to modernise tax administration and improve the business environment, Kouchouk described planned tax facilitations and a rapid rollout of digital services aimed at simplifying taxpayer interactions. He said the ministry will expand premium tax centres and accelerate digital integration to improve the user experience for companies and citizens alike.

• Expansion of premium tax centres to provide enhanced, expedited services.
• Acceleration of digital integration across tax administration to reduce in-person visits.
• Deployment of new digital platforms to streamline property and tax-related procedures.

One concrete example the minister highlighted is the launch of the "Real Estate Dispositions" application, a digital platform that enables citizens to complete property transaction procedures entirely online — from registering data and uploading documents to paying owed tax and receiving final clearance. Kouchouk said the application will reduce the need for physical visits to tax offices and contribute to improved taxpayer compliance and service quality.

Kouchouk reiterated his commitment to modernising tax administration "through the expanded use of technology and simplified procedures," and emphasised the need to continuously engage with taxpayers and the business community to refine services, encourage voluntary compliance and increase system efficiency.

Outlook

With the private sector now shouldering almost 60% of investment and risk metrics improving to levels not seen since 2014, the government’s near-term agenda focuses on converting policy measures into tangible services and incentives to sustain momentum. If implemented effectively — through expanded premium tax centres, digital platforms like the "Real Estate Dispositions" app, and targeted fiscal incentives — these steps could further strengthen Egypt’s attractiveness for private and foreign investors and help translate rising investor confidence into sustained economic expansion.