GAFI CEO: President Macron's Visit Marks a New Chapter in the Egypt-France Partnership

 Egypt-France Business Forum kicked off in Cairo with broad participation from officials and business community representatives from both countries today.
GAFI CEO Mr. Hossan Heiba stated, in his speech during the opening session of the Forum, that the visit of H.E. the French President Emmanuel Macron to Egypt represents a pivotal moment in the strategic relationship between the two countries, and affirms the deep historical ties and growing cooperation in various fields, particularly economic ones.
He emphasized that the visit comes at a highly significant time; since Egypt seeks to open broader horizons for international partnerships. He noted that both countries share a common vision for a future based on innovation, sustainable development, and mutual prosperity.
Mr. Heiba added that under the leadership of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt has successfully implemented structural economic reforms that have strengthened the investment climate. He highlighted that in 2024, Egypt attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of $46.6 billion worth, reflecting the growing confidence of the international community in the Egyptian economy.
Mr. Heiba noted that the Egyptian government has set ambitious targets for the coming years, including attracting USD 60 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI), increasing the value of exports to USD 145 billion, and raising the private sector's contribution to 65% of total investments by 2030.
He further highlighted that France is one of Egypt's key strategic partners, with French investments in the country exceeding USD 7 billion, contributing to the creation of over 50,000 job opportunities through more than 180 French companies currently operating in the Egyptian market.
Heiba also pointed out that the Egyptian state has launched a series of policies aimed at enhancing economic competitiveness and improving the business climate, most notably the State Ownership Policy adopted in 2023, and the Golden License, which facilitates the expedited and efficient issuance of licenses for major investment projects.
Furthermore, Mr. Heiba added that Egypt is keen to deepen avenues of cooperation with the French side across various sectors, including clean energy, digital transformation, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, and technology, affirming that the Egyptian market holds promising investment opportunities for French investors—especially in light of the government's commitment to sustainable development and the financing of green projects.
He also affirmed that GAFI stands fully prepared to extend all forms of support to French investors and to provide the necessary facilitation to ensure their seamless entry into the Egyptian market.
 He emphasized that the Egypt-France partnership is entering a more dynamic and impactful phase—one that will yield mutual economic benefits for both countries and their peoples.
On his part, Mr. Ayman Ezzat, Chairman of the Egypt-France Business Council, stated that today's forum represents an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between Egypt and France, in light of a favorable investment climate and ongoing reform efforts.
Moreover, he pointed out that there have been economic reforms and new policies that prioritized the private sector's role in development, resulting in successful partnerships with the government, most notably investments exceeding one billion dollars in sectors such as education, transportation, and infrastructure.
Mr. Ezzat added that such occasion marks a new chapter in Egyptian-French relations, coinciding with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. Our aim is to strengthen investments and partnerships founded on innovation and knowledge, and to build bridges between people and businesses that support a prosperous future for both sides.
Mr. Didier Boulogne, Chief Operating Officer at the French Ministry for Foreign Trade, stated that the Egypt-Frabce Business Forum represents a key platform for facilitating the growth and expansion of companies across both the Egyptian and French markets.
He further emphasized France's commitment to supporting the Egyptian economy, noting that it stands as the largest European investor in Cairo, with total investments reaching $7 billion.
He also highlighted that French companies operating in Egypt are active across a wide range of sectors and are looking to expand their presence beyond the local market, targeting opportunities in both African and Middle Eastern markets.