Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid met with Adeeb Youssef Al-Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), to discuss strengthening cooperation in export financing, startup support, investment zone development, and the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to boost foreign trade.

Farid emphasized the importance of working with ITFC to establish and operate a regulatory sandbox for financial and trade technology (Fintech Sandbox), providing a platform for innovative solutions that leverage data, technology, and AI to support commercial and marketing activities and help Egyptian companies access international markets.

He noted that integrating AI tools and digital agents into trade and marketing operations could enable exporters to reach non-traditional markets and increase export volumes.

The minister also highlighted the need to attract startups and entrepreneurs to develop innovative technological solutions for exporters, alongside providing financing to participating companies to transform their ideas into scalable business models.

Farid called for expanding export-related factoring activities through dedicated financing facilities, enabling factoring companies to provide exporters with greater liquidity and expand their financing portfolios.

He explained that strengthening export factoring could broaden Egypt’s exporter base and increase foreign currency inflows.

The minister also proposed leveraging the Sovereign Fund of Egypt as a central financing institution to receive international funding and channel it to factoring companies, facilitating their access to resources needed to expand export financing operations.

He affirmed the ministry’s readiness to coordinate with relevant authorities to implement the proposed financing model.

Regarding investment zone development, Farid outlined plans to establish between 15 and 20 small and medium-sized investment zones across Egypt, particularly near residential communities, to promote regional development and create employment opportunities, especially for women.

The proposed zones would cover areas ranging from 20 to 80 feddans each, accommodating industrial, logistics, manufacturing, and service activities through leasing and long-term usufruct arrangements.

He noted that several land plots had already been allocated in coordination with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade in preparation for development.

Farid stressed the importance of accelerating implementation through public-private partnerships (PPPs), allowing both the government and private developers to contribute financing, improve infrastructure, and attract investment.

The minister also emphasized the need to strengthen sector-specific expertise rather than focusing solely on promoting investment opportunities.

He noted that Egypt’s foreign direct investment strategy, developed in cooperation with the World Bank, identified 16 priority sectors, requiring investment promotion professionals to acquire deeper technical and commercial knowledge of each sector and its supply chains.

Farid further highlighted the importance of developing young professionals through specialized training programs and professional certifications to strengthen workforce capabilities and support the implementation of joint initiatives.

For his part, ITFC CEO Adeeb Youssef Al-Aama reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s export growth and developing trade financing instruments.

He expressed interest in expanding cooperation under Egypt’s 2026–2027 country program within the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) initiative.

Al-Aama said ITFC is developing tailored financing programs to improve the efficiency of export-oriented businesses and help Egyptian companies enter new markets, strengthening their competitiveness and international presence.

He also emphasized the importance of supporting exporters in improving operational performance while investing in young professionals through specialized training and certification programs.

Farid reiterated the government's objective of making exporting more attractive to young people and entrepreneurs by encouraging innovation and developing technology-driven trade solutions that generate economic returns and boost exports.

He added that successful companies could receive additional incentives, including opportunities to participate in international trade missions and exhibitions, discounts on services provided by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and access to data and market information to support their business activities.