Egypt Advances Preparations for Participation in the "B-Ready 2026" Report under the Leadership of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade

In line with the directives of the political leadership to enhance the investment climate and improve the business environment, the Egyptian government is intensifying its preparations for participation in the Business Ready 2026 ( B-READY 2026) report issued by the World Bank Group. The process is being led by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, in coordination with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and in collaboration with various state institutions and the private sector.

This engagement comes within the broader strategic framework aimed at improving Egypt's positioning in international indices related to investment attractiveness and the efficiency of public services, through the adoption of a comprehensive reform methodology rooted in the principles of partnership, good governance, and institutional coherence.

The "B-Ready" report, issued by the World Bank Group, is one of the leading global assessment tools for evaluating how conducive and attractive a country's business environment is for investment. It is built on three core pillars: the soundness of the legal and regulatory framework governing business activity; the quality of digital public services; and the transparency of available data for investors. In addition, it measures the operational efficiency of service delivery, assessed by the number of procedures, time, and cost required to complete them.

The report covers ten key thematic areas, representing the full lifecycle of an investment project—from incorporation and operation to exit. Its methodology relies on detailed surveys administered to representatives of the private sector and relevant government entities, ensuring that the evaluation reflects the actual state of practice and highlights actionable reform opportunities.

As part of the preparation process, three intensive rounds of specialized meetings were recently concluded for the national working groups responsible for the report's ten thematic areas. These meetings included broad participation from government officials and private sector stakeholders.

The meetings focused on reviewing the report's methodology, analyzing the World Bank questionnaires, examining initial government responses, identifying existing legislative and regulatory gaps, and drafting a preliminary matrix of proposed reforms. This marks a substantial step forward in articulating a comprehensive reform vision that aligns with the internationally approved standards underpinning the report.

The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), through its specialized technical teams, led the drafting of the proposed reform matrix. The draft was informed by leading international practices and GAFI's accumulated institutional expertise. The matrix has been circulated to the national working groups for review and feedback as part of a participatory approach that promotes consensus on national priorities and reinforces institutional consistency in the reform process.

Dr. Dalia El-Hawary, Deputy CEO of GAFI and Head of the Technical Secretariat of the National Committee for the Report, emphasized that GAFI's technical follow-up teams are conducting regular, rigorous reviews of the reform matrix to ensure its alignment with World Bank standards and national development objectives.

She highlighted that Egypt's approach represents an advanced institutional model for coordinating efforts across government bodies and maximizing the potential within the state's administrative system—through close cooperation with private sector experts and representatives.

These efforts reflect the state's commitment to implementing comprehensive structural reforms that strengthen the investment climate and support Egypt's developmental vision for the coming phase.

 

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