Free Zones Drive Egypt’s Plan to Attract $6.5 Billion in New Investments

The Egyptian government is seeking to strengthen the role of free zones in supporting economic growth and attracting foreign direct investment, through a plan aimed at securing about $6.5 billion to establish and develop seven new free zones over the next three years.

The initiative is designed to boost export capacity and increase investment-driven growth.

According to official data, the new free zones will cover a total area of around 991 feddans, with expected annual exports reaching approximately $2.35 billion, highlighting their strategic importance in improving trade performance and industrial output.

Egypt currently operates nine public and private free zones, alongside 11 investment zones, technology parks, and the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

These areas host more than 1,200 projects, with total capital of about $14.7 billion and investments exceeding $38.7 billion, providing over 228,000 direct jobs.

As part of efforts to enhance the investment climate, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones is preparing a new package of regulatory amendments aimed at improving operational efficiency by defining suitable projects for each zone and adding complementary activities to existing industries.

The proposed reforms are expected to encourage investment in key sectors such as textiles, automotive-related industries, electronics and home appliances, logistics and storage, chemicals, and solar panel manufacturing, reinforcing the competitiveness of Egypt’s free zones at both regional and global levels.