Mr. Hossam Heiba, Chief Executive Officer of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), stated that over the past period, GAFI has succeeded in transforming investment procedures into a modern digital experience characterized by transparency and ease of use. This transformation has enabled the inclusion, in the draft Companies Law—scheduled to be presented before the new House of Representatives in its first session—of a provision requiring all government authorities to complete the necessary approvals electronically within no more than 20 business days, which is the same timeframe mandated by the government for granting approvals to companies awarded the Golden License.

These remarks were made during Mr. Heiba's participation in a panel discussion entitled “Macroeconomic Reforms in Egypt as a Catalyst for Investment", held as part of the third edition of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Annual Report Summit 2025, with the participation of Dr. Gehan Saleh, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Mr. Omar El-Shenety, Co-Founder of Zilla Capital.

The session addressed the pivotal role of economic reforms in enhancing the attractiveness of the Egyptian market to both local and foreign investors through improving the business climate, developing legislation, and upgrading infrastructure, thereby driving sustainable growth, supporting entrepreneurship, and empowering the private sector to assume its role as a key partner in achieving economic development.

The CEO further noted that startups are the primary beneficiaries of streamlined investment procedures, as they were previously the most burdened by lengthy incorporation periods and complex procedures compared with larger, more capitalized companies. He emphasized that today all companies benefit from a simplified digital process aligned with international best practices. He also highlighted that GAFI has been training its African partners to replicate Egypt's experience in streamlining procedures and improving investor services.

Mr. Heiba also reviewed the efforts of the Permanent Unit for Entrepreneurship and Startup Support, hosted by GAFI, which works to build bridges among all stakeholders engaged in improving the entrepreneurship environment. The Unit translates the State's strategic objectives into concrete mechanisms designed to enhance the performance of this rapidly growing sector.

He affirmed that, following the development of databases on the needs and growth opportunities of startups, as well as a review of the experiences of more than twenty countries in supporting startups, GAFI is formulating a comprehensive strategy. This strategy will set out specific targets for the sector, including the number of new startups, their expected growth rates, and priority activities for support.​