GAFI CEO Highlights GAFI’s Experience in Promoting Sustainability and Investment Competitiveness at a Main Session of the 30th WAIPA World Investment Conference (WIC 2026)

Dr. Mohamed Awad:

• Foreign companies operating in Egypt rely on local suppliers for 63.6% of their production inputs, according to an OECD report.

In line with the directives of Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT Minister), to strengthen cooperation with international investment institutions and promote Egypt’s experience in improving its investment climate, Dr. Mohamed Awad, GAFI CEO, participated in a main session of the 30th WAIPA World Investment Conference (WIC 2026), organized by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme "Investing in Inclusive Value Chains."

In his address, Dr. Awad presented Egypt’s experience in integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards into its investment ecosystem, recognizing ESG standards as a key driver of enhancing corporate competitiveness, attracting investment, and achieving sustainable growth. He noted that the share of green public investments in total public investments increased from 15% in FY 2020/2021 to 55% in FY 2025/2026, according to data from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MPED).

He explained that GAFI had established an independent Sustainability Department to help companies develop corporate social responsibility and sustainable development strategies, adopt responsible business practices, and allocate a portion of their profits to community initiatives. GAFI has also introduced awards recognizing corporate social responsibility and sustainability, in addition to preparing reports on sustainability and carbon footprint.

GAFI CEO underscored the importance of investment zones and free zones in supporting inclusive value chains and enhancing competitiveness by connecting local producers with global markets. In this regard, he pointed out that foreign companies operating in Egypt rely on local suppliers for approximately 63.6% of their production inputs, compared to approximately 49.1% in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 45.4% in member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to an OECD report."

He added that the "Egypt takes off through Exports" initiative, launched by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT), aims to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exporters and facilitate access for Egyptian products to foreign markets, thereby supporting the integration of local companies into global value chains.

The session also featured the participation of several international officials and experts, including Escipion Joaquin Oliveira Gomez, Director of Country Programs (DCP) at the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva ; Aissatou Diallo, Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) at the World Trade Organization (WTO); Susan Greene, Assistant Secretary-General of Policies and Programmes at the organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS); and Arlette Verploegh, Head of Entrepreneurship Development Branch at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).