The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) hosted the second Egyptian-Swedish Business Forum, attended by 23 Swedish companies, to explore opportunities for economic cooperation and the best financing solutions for investment and trade collaboration between the two countries.

Mr. Hossam Heiba, GAFI CEO, stated that in recent years, the Egyptian government has shifted from offering general incentives to investors to providing sector-specific incentives tailored to the needs of each industry. This has been accompanied by the launch of targeted strategies for high-priority sectors, including industries in which Sweden has significant competitive advantages such as automotive, engineering, ICT, and new and renewable energy.

Minister Plenipotentiary for Trade Affairs, Mr. Mostafa Shekhoun, Deputy Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), emphasized that the infrastructure in the Canal region is well-equipped to attract industrial investments in sectors where Sweden holds global leadership—particularly shipbuilding and automotive industries. He noted that the SCZone actively supports partnerships between factories operating in the zone and industrial schools and institutes to meet the demand for highly skilled labor.

Mr. Patrick Johansson, Senior Vice President for Market Area Europe, Middle East, and North Africa at Ericsson, highlighted the company's 125-year history of cooperation with the Egyptian government. He reaffirmed Ericsson's commitment to supporting Egypt's efforts in developing electricity generation capabilities and deploying 5G technologies, which will drive the industrial revolution in Egypt and globally by enhancing the speed and efficiency of manufacturing processes.

Mr. Johansson also stressed that Egyptian talent plays a significant role in the company's operations and service and product development centers in Egypt and around the world, praising their exceptional ability to innovate unconventional solutions and their dedication to work.

Eng. Karim Sami Saad, Chairman of Samcrete Holding, emphasized that a skilled workforce is the decisive factor in the success of the automotive and other engineering industries in Egypt. He cited Egypt's impressive progress toward becoming the regional hub for the automotive industry, alongside efforts to localize industries related to metro and railway systems and their supply chains.

Mr. Olov Hemström, Head of Strategic Projects at Business Sweden, stated that the Swedish delegation includes a mix of major companies operating in pharmaceuticals, automotive, and renewable energy, along with startups seeking to explore the Egyptian market. He also noted that Swedish investments in Egypt yield some of the highest returns globally.

Regarding optimal financing methods for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, Ms. Sherine El Sharkawy, Senior Assistant to the Minister of Finance for Economic Affairs, explained that Egypt is a well-established market for international bonds, a key tool for development financing. In recent years, Egypt has expanded its issuance of green bonds to finance sustainable development plans. She invited the Swedish business community and other European investors to invest in Egyptian green bonds.

Ms. Maria Håkansson, CEO of the Swedish Development Finance Institution (Swedfund), stated that the organization has provided long-term financing to Egypt's private sector for 30 years in sectors such as transport, renewable energy, and ICT. She announced that in the coming years, Swedfund will introduce new financing tools tailored to Egypt's evolving business environment, including specialized instruments for early-stage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure sustainable growth.

Ms. Lena Bertilsson, Director of Large Corporate Business at the Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN), noted that the agency holds a AAA credit rating, enabling it to offer long-term, low-cost financing for exports and renewable energy projects. She added that Sweden's business community prioritizes investment and trade cooperation in sectors such as bus manufacturing, infrastructure, ICT, and medical equipment for hospital operations.

Mr. Alaa El-Zohairy, Chairman of the Insurance Federation of Egypt, said that although insurance premiums in the Egyptian market have reached EGP 83 billion, there is still vast potential for Egyptian-Swedish cooperation in insurance, particularly in agriculture, which remains an untapped segment in the insurance industry.