El-Khatib met with Andrew Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer of Uber, to discuss the company’s expansion in the Egyptian market. The Minister described Egypt as a pivotal hub for Uber, noting its role in supporting smart transport and providing income for thousands of drivers.
Discussions highlighted Uber’s potential to support Egypt’s
goal of doubling tourist numbers by 2030 through specialized services at
airports and tourist sites. Uber officials noted that they currently serve two
million monthly users in Egypt with 150,000 drivers and operate a regional
customer service center in Cairo employing 400 people.
In talks with Salih Merghani, COO of Olayan Group, the Minister
emphasized the government's support for foreign investment. Merghani described
Egypt as a "business incubator" that allows the group to develop
companies locally before scaling them internationally, specifically targeting
the food, energy, and healthcare sectors.
Minister El-Khatib also met with Jai Shroff, Chairman and
CEO of India’s UPL Group, focusing on the company’s long-standing presence in
Egypt’s fertilizer and pesticide sectors. El-Khatib detailed Egypt’s national
strategy to achieve food security, noting that agricultural land has increased
from 6 million to 9 million acres under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with
plans to add a further 4.5 million feddans.
Citing India’s success in digital financial inclusion, the Minister
expressed interest in adopting similar national digital ID systems to
facilitate cash transfers and integrate the informal economy. He emphasized
Egypt’s demographic strength, noting that 60% of its 110 million citizens are
under the age of 30, providing a massive, youthful workforce to drive future
investments.
Finally, the Minister stressed the continued work with all investors to enhance the business environment in Egypt, and to make it a platform for launching new projects at the local and regional levels, to achieve the state’s development goals and enhance its competitiveness in global markets.