Abbas emphasized that goods and services from Switzerland
enjoy strong acceptance and respect in the Egyptian market. He said the
Egyptian government seeks to turn this respect into a deep partnership and
expand Switzerland’s investments in Egypt. This strategy supports Egypt’s
development goals under “Egypt Vision 2030,” including employment creation,
technology localization, and increased production for export.
He reviewed the reforms Egypt has undertaken over recent
years. The country established robust infrastructure providing essential
investment needs such as energy, highways, and technological infrastructure.
Investment incentives have been expanded, and procedures for investment and
business operations have been simplified. These measures helped Egypt achieve
ninth place globally among countries attracting investments in 2024, according
to UNCTAD, with a net inflow of $46.1 billion. Switzerland’s investments in
Egypt also benefited, totaling around $4.9 billion.
He invited the Switzerland delegation to visit Egypt’s free
zones, investment zones, and technology parks to explore investment
opportunities on the ground.
Kamal highlighted that the forum provided a distinguished
platform to deepen trade and investment ties between Egypt and Switzerland. She
noted that current global trade fluctuations call for expanding collaboration.
Kamal added that annual bilateral trade between the two countries exceeds $1
billion. She encouraged Switzerland’s investors to explore new opportunities in
Egypt to reach markets connected through trade agreements, representing around
3 billion consumers.
The head of the Switzerland delegation said the visit
allowed him to witness the tremendous development in Egypt’s economic
environment, including supportive infrastructure and streamlined procedures. He
said this explains the improvement in Egypt’s global economic contribution over
recent years.
Abdelmalek showcased success stories of Switzerland-based
companies in Egypt, particularly in pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, and
textiles. Egypt hosts over 400 Switzerland-based projects generating $1.6
billion annually and providing more than 10,000 jobs. He noted that over
two-thirds of Switzerland-based companies in Egypt have operated for more than
25 years, and he expects Switzerland’s investment presence to grow in the
coming years.
The forum concluded with bilateral meetings between
Switzerland-based companies interested in investing in Egypt and their Egyptian
counterparts. The discussions aimed to establish partnerships in
pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, transportation, logistics, and scientific
research.