QBA explores new initiatives with Egypt’s investment minister to boost mutual investment and economic partnership
Sheikh Faisal: Promising Opportunities to Expand Qatar–Egypt Economic Partnership
Minister Saleh: Dedicated Department for Qatari Investors and Plans for Egypt’s Sovereign Fund to Invest in Qatar
The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) received H.E. Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, and his accompanying delegation in the presence of the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Qatar, H.E. Mr. Walid Fahmy Al Faqi. Discussions focused on strengthening economic and investment ties between the two countries, exploring opportunities to expand mutual investment, and developing joint projects in priority sectors. The two sides also reviewed a number of practical initiatives aimed at easing business for investors and deepening economic integration.
The meeting was attedned by H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, QBA’s Chairman and QBA members, H.E. Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim Al Thani, H.E. Sheikh Nayef Bin Eid Al Thani, Mr. Salah Jaidah, Mr. Faisal Abdulla Khalid Al Mana, Mr. Maqbool Habeeb Khalfan, Dr. Jaafar Ali Al-Sarraf and Mr. Mohammed Altaf. The meeting was also attended by Mrs. Sarah Abdallah, QAB’s General Manager.
At the beginign of the meeting, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani stressed on the importance of the economic and investment relations between Qatar and Egypt, noting that both countries hold significant potential to strengthen private sector cooperation and build long-term investment partnerships.
He added that the Egyptian market offers key investment advantages, including the size of its domestic market, the diversity of its economic sectors and its strategic geographic location, in addition to opportunities to establish productive, industrial, tourism and service projects.
Sheikh Faisal noted that Qatari businessmen are looking to expand their investments in Egypt and tap into opportunities across various sectors, stressing the importance of providing accurate investment information, simplifying procedures and removing obstacles that investors may face.
He reaffirmed QBA’s commitment to strengthening direct communication with Egyptian economic and investment bodies, and to turning the opportunities on the table into concrete projects that add value to both the Qatari and Egyptian economies.
A Dedicated Department to Serve Qatari Investors
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh highlighted the growth in economic and investment relations between the two countries, praising the role Qatari investments play in the Egyptian market and the confidence they reflect in the opportunities and potential of Egypt’s economy.
As part of Egypt’s drive to attract more Qatari investment, the Minister confirmed the establishment of a dedicated department within the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade to handle the affairs of Qatari investors. The department will work to streamline their procedures, follow up on their projects and resolve any obstacles they may encounter.
He explained that the department’s responsibilities will include providing investors with detailed information on available investment opportunities, land and projects, as well as clarifying the conditions and requirements to be met. This, he said, will help Qatari companies make investment decisions on a clear basis while saving the time and effort needed to complete procedures.
The Minister also outlined the Egyptian government’s efforts to improve the investment climate and develop its system of incentives and facilitation, pointing to the importance of cooperation with the Qatari private sector in the industrial, tourism, real estate and logistics sectors, among other priority areas.
In a move reflecting the push toward two-way investment, the Minister discussed Egypt’s interest, through The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, in exploring investment opportunities within Qatar, as well as plans to open an office for the Fund in Doha.
He said the step would support direct engagement with Qatari investment institutions and companies, and allow both sides to explore opportunities for cooperation and joint investment in the two countries and across regional markets.
The Minister stressed that investment relations between Qatar and Egypt should not be limited to the flow of Qatari capital into the Egyptian market, but should evolve into a mutual partnership that draws on the economic and institutional strengths of both sides.
Overcoming Obstacles
H.E. Mansoor bin Jassim Al Thani, QBA member, emphasized the importance of strengthening the institutional mechanisms that support Qatari investment in Egypt. He called for the establishment of a specialized office to assist Qatari small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to enter the Egyptian market, and to help overcome the administrative and procedural difficulties they may face at various stages of investment.
He explained that SMEs hold promising potential to contribute to the economic partnership between the two countries, but require direct channels of communication with the relevant authorities. Such channels, he said, would give them access to accurate information on investment opportunities, licensing, land allocation, and legal and regulatory requirements, helping them make informed investment decisions and strengthening their ability to deliver successful and sustainable projects.
Sheikh Mansoor praised the significant role played by Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade in developing the legislative and regulatory investment environment, and in setting out a clear roadmap for Qatari companies covering applicable laws, regulations, procedures and investment incentives, which he said contributes to greater transparency and easier market entry for investors.
Diversified Investments
H.E. Nayef Bin Eid Al Thani, QBA member, discusssed the experience of Retaj Investment Group in the Egyptian market, noting that the Group currently owns six projects in Egypt in hotel management and commercial centers. This, he said, reflects the Group’s interest in the Egyptian market and its confidence in the investment opportunities offered by the tourism and services sectors.
Sheikh Nayef said the Group is looking to expand its investment activities in Egypt in the coming period by moving into tourism related real estate development, capitalizing on growing demand for hotels, tourism facilities and related services.
He affirmed that Egypt possesses significant tourism and investment assets, and that developing integrated tourism and real estate projects represents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Qatari and Egyptian investors, while helping to support the country’s tourism infrastructure and increase the sector’s capacity.
H.E Minister Saleh affirmed that tourism is among the priority sectors in Egypt’s strategy to attract investment, referring to a study prepared in cooperation with the World Bank on the sector’s investment opportunities and future needs.
The Minister said Egypt aims to reach 30 million tourists in the coming period, a target that will require expanding hotel capacity from the current 1,500 units to around 3,000 new hotel rooms annually. This, he said, opens opportunities for Qatari investors, who hold major tourism investments outside Qatar, to develop hotels, resorts and tourism real estate projects, supporting joint investment and contributing to Egypt’s tourism development targets.
The Qatari Businessmen Association stressted on its commitment to continued coordination and communication with Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and coordinating an upcoming visit to Egypt at the Minister’s invitation, with the aim of following up on the opportunities and initiatives presented and encouraging Qatari businessmen and companies to explore them, in service of both countries’ shared interests and sustainable economic development.