Dr. Mohamed Awad:

• We are working to strengthen the Egyptian-Chinese investment partnership and address challenges facing Chinese companies operating in Egypt.

Chinese Ambassador:

• Continued direct dialogue contributes to advancing economic relations and encouraging more companies to invest in Egypt.

In line with the directives of Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, to strengthen economic and investment partnerships and support companies operating in the Egyptian market, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) convened the inaugural meeting of the Egyptian-Chinese Business and Investment Promotion Committee, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Liao Liqiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Egypt, with the participation of representatives of a number of companies and relevant entities from both sides.
GAFI CEO Dr. Mohamed Awad affirmed that convening the Committee marks an important step toward strengthening economic and investment relations between Egypt and China and establishing direct channels of dialogue with the Chinese business community. This, he noted, will help identify the challenges facing companies, work to address them in coordination with the relevant government authorities, and support their expansion plans in the Egyptian market.
He noted that approximately 3,366 Chinese companies are currently investing in Egypt and operating across a number of vital sectors, including spinning, weaving, textiles, and ready-made garments; solar panels; chemicals; automotive manufacturing; and logistics.
Dr. Awad explained that GAFI has established a Chinese Investments Unit tasked with following up on the needs of Chinese companies and coordinating with the relevant government authorities to overcome the obstacles they face and reach practical and expeditious solutions. He emphasized that facilitating investors’ business operations and engaging directly with them and listening to their concerns are among GAFI’s key priorities.
During the meeting, representatives of 10 Chinese companies outlined the main challenges and issues affecting their operations in Egypt, along with a number of proposals. Representatives of the relevant government authorities discussed the issues raised and considered the necessary measures to address them.
On his part, Ambassador Liao Liqiang underscored the importance of maintaining direct dialogue between the two sides, commending GAFI’s efforts to support Chinese companies and establish channels of communication with them. He affirmed that the Committee constitutes an important mechanism for identifying investors’ needs and addressing the challenges they face.
The Ambassador expressed his hope that the Committee’s outcomes would contribute to facilitating the expansion of existing Chinese companies and encouraging more investors to capitalize on the opportunities available in Egypt, particularly in productive and export-oriented sectors.Dr. Mohamed Awad reaffirmed that GAFI will continue to serve as a supportive partner to Chinese companies, stressing that GAFI will follow up on the issues raised by companies and coordinate with the relevant government authorities to address them. Such efforts, he noted, will contribute to facilitating their operations and supporting further Chinese investment in Egypt.