Mr. Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, inaugurated the Permanent Unit for Entrepreneurship and Startups headquarters, in the presence of key officials, including Mr. Sherif Loqman, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; Dr. Basel Rahmi, CEO of the SME Development Agency; Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA; Mr. Tamer Taha, Head of Private Sector Engagement Unit at the Ministry of International Cooperation; and Dr. Heba Medhat, Director of Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The event was also attended by government representatives, advisory board members, entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, and accelerators.

Mr. Hossam Heiba emphasized that the unit's launch aligns with one of the key decisions of the Supreme Council for Investment, chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and directives from Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. The unit aims to engage with entrepreneurs, identify their challenges, and propose solutions to enhance Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

During the event, the Entrepreneurship and Startups Unit's digital platform was officially launched. The platform provides access to government-backed services for entrepreneurs and serves as a comprehensive database on Egypt’s startup ecosystem. Additionally, information on investment funds, incubators, and accelerators will soon be integrated into the platform.

Mr. Hossam Heiba also announced the formation of a voluntary advisory board composed entirely of private sector leaders and entrepreneurs to support policy and regulatory recommendations that foster startup growth. Furthermore, the unit plans to establish additional offices across Egypt to ensure nationwide accessibility for entrepreneurs.

The CEO also outlined the unit’s key priorities, including:

• Defining clear criteria for startups to facilitate access to incentives outlined in the 2020 SME Development Law.
• Assessing and proposing new incentives for startups and entrepreneurs.
• Streamlining business exit procedures, ensuring that company liquidation does not exceed 90 days.
• Developing a proposal for a dedicated startup tax office to support financial and administrative processes.

Mr. Hossam Abdelkader, Head of the Central Entrepreneurship Administration, stated that the unit's headquarters will include an office for digital company registration, a dedicated inquiry desk for entrepreneurs, and a unit for receiving startup-related challenges and suggestions.

Dr. Heba Zaki, Director of the Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, participated in the launch ceremony of the Permanent Unit for Entrepreneurship's digital platform. During her speech, she highlighted the key role of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in supporting entrepreneurship through the Egypt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which provides specialized programs aimed at empowering youth and entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and enhancing the startup ecosystem in Egypt.