The meeting comes within the framework of the state’s direction toward digital transformation and the development of an integrated digital system aimed at reshaping the business environment in Egypt.
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh:
- The Economic Entities Platform is a unified national platform that connects the stages of business lifecycle (establishment, licensing, operation, and exit) within a single digital system.
- The platform represents a pivotal step in developing Egypt’s business environment and contributes to building an integrated digital ecosystem for managing economic activities.
In line with the state’s direction toward digital transformation and building an integrated digital system that reshapes Egypt’s business environment, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT), held a coordination meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting was attended by officials from the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), Eng. Mohamed El-Gawsaky, GAFI CEO, Eng. Mahmoud Badawy, Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology on Digital Transformation Affairs, as well as representatives from the MIFT, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology(MCIT) as well as representatives from Prime Consulting, the company responsible for business process re-engineering, also attended. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in implementing the Economic Entities Platform, as one of the key pillars for developing investment services and advancing the digital transformation of Egypt’s business environment.
The Minister affirmed that the Economic Entities Platform represents an institutional transformation in the management of the entire investment lifecycle. It establishes a unified national platform that links the stages of establishment, licensing, operation, and exit within a single digital system. The platform is based on a unified digital identity for each economic entity and includes all fees and financial charges associated with economic activities.
He explained that the platform aims to establish a centralized and integrated database that include all entities that interact with investors across various sectors. This will enable the state to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of economic activities, support evidence-based decision-making, enhance coordination among different government entities, and reduce data duplication and fragmentation across multiple sources.
The Minister noted that the platform is being developed in cooperation with the MCIT and the ACA, ensuring the integration of databases among relevant entities, the application of the highest standards of digital governance and information security, and the establishment of an advanced information infrastructure that supports efficient management of economic activities and facilitates investment procedures.
The Minister affirmed that the development of the platform is being implemented in parallel with a comprehensive program for re-engineering licensing procedures for all economic activities. Existing procedures are currently being reviewed and redesigned in coordination with relevant authorities, with the aim of simplifying procedural cycles, eliminating duplication among different entities, and standardizing requirements, documents, and fees. This will enable the full transformation of the workflow into an integrated digital process within the platform.
He further explained that the project also includes re-engineering the procedures for sector-specific licenses across various economic activities in Egypt, ensuring a unified methodology for issuing licenses among different authorities, reducing overlaps in mandates, and establishing a clear and standardized framework for licensing requirements.
The Minister stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of this process, affirming that re-engineering procedures goes beyond digitizing existing processes. It aims to fundamentally redesign them in line with international best practices, thereby reducing the number of steps and the time required to obtain licenses, clearly defining the authority responsible for each procedure, and integrating related government services within a single platform. This will enhance procedural clarity for investors and improve service delivery efficiency.
He added that the platform will enable investors to establish companies, obtain licenses, and access various services from relevant authorities through a unified digital interface. This will achieve a real shift from a multi-window government model to a single-platform model, reducing the time and cost associated with starting and conducting economic activities.
The Minister also reviewed during the meeting the plan to develop the current digital services hosting environment, particularly company establishment services at GAFI, by transitioning to a modern, secure, and scalable operating environment capable of accommodating the growing volume of data generated from services provided to investors. This ensures the continuity of digital services and enhances their operational efficiency.
He affirmed that the Economic Entities Platform represents a pivotal milestone in the development of Egypt’s business environment, as it contributes to building an integrated digital ecosystem for managing economic activities. It also supports the state’s efforts to enhance transparency and governance and improve the efficiency of government service delivery to investors. He noted that the project represents one of the key pillars for enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and strengthening the attractiveness of the investment environment, through simplifying procedures, integrating data, and providing a comprehensive digital experience for investors across all stages of the investment project.
The Minister concluded by affirming that the coming period will witness an acceleration in the implementation of the project in coordination with relevant authorities, ensuring the platform is completed according to a clear timeline. This will further strengthen the confidence of both national and international investors in the stability and clarity of the state’s economic policies, and support Egypt’s direction toward building a modern digital business environment aligned with the best international practices.
