Cairo: As part of the Egyptian state's efforts to strengthen the investment climate, develop the business environment, and attract more foreign investment, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones held an expanded meeting with the French Ambassador to Egypt, ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬°ric Chauvallier, and Mr. Ahmed Amwy, Head of the Customs Authority. Senior French officials participated, including Pascal Forth, Head of the Economic Section at the French Embassy, Christelle Labernide, Country Director of Business France in Egypt, Laurent Pasquier, Regional Customs Attach©, and Mohamed Saad, Head of the branch of France's Foreign Trade Advisers (CCEF), along with representatives of French companies operating in the Egyptian market, to discuss boosting investment and improving the business climate.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, emphasized the role French investment plays in supporting Egyptian economic growth, noting the marked expansion of French companies' activities in Egypt and the diversity of their involvement across industrial and service sectors. Heiba explained that the government continues to implement extensive reforms to develop the customs system, including speeding up pre-clearance procedures, expanding the use of digital systems, improving customs valuation methods, and reducing release times, all of which contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and facilitating trade flows.
Heiba noted that French investors can benefit from the Permanent Unit for Investor Problem Solving and the Investor Dispute Resolution Centre, stressing that these mechanisms provide swift and effective solutions that strengthen the stability of their investment activities. He added that this meeting marks the start of a regular dialogue platform between the Authority, the French Embassy and French companies, aimed at discussing challenges, working to overcome them, and improving the business environment.
For his part, the French Ambassador expressed his country's keenness to support economic and investment cooperation with Egypt, affirming that French companies are a key partner in supporting the Egyptian economy and expanding investment opportunities across various sectors. He said that regular meetings between the two sides represent an important opportunity to exchange expertise and ideas, helping to remove obstacles and simplify procedures for French investment.
Mr. Ahmed Amwy, Head of the Customs Authority, outlined the main ongoing customs reforms, particularly in simplifying procedures, developing digital infrastructure, and accelerating trade flows, in line with international best practice and contributing to improved services for investors.
The meeting included an extensive discussion session between representatives of French companies and government officials, during which participants reviewed customs challenges and supply chains and discussed opportunities to strengthen the growth and stability of French investment in Egypt. Several leading French companies in the automotive, energy, food, logistics, biotech, aviation, sport, and hospitality sectors took part in the discussions, including Valeo, Air Liquide, Bel, CMA CGM, P©legrin(?), Dassault, SCAT, Decathlon, and the Barri¨re Group.
At the close of the meeting, both sides expressed their hope for continued coordination and joint work, affirming that constructive dialogue between Egyptian government institutions and French companies represents an important step in supporting the business community and facilitating the flow of investment, which will strengthen economic ties between the two countries and support the Egyptian state's efforts to improve the investment climate.