Egypt
Information about the partnership
Partner country since 2011
Participants in the programme to date: 486 executives
Political partner for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy: Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Egypt offers German SMEs significant potential for collaboration in climate protection, renewable energy, engineering, Food processing, Building Materials and healthcare. Partnering in Business with Germany brings together Egyptian companies with internationalization potential and German companies seeking to enter the market. In Egypt, personal business relationships are crucial. With patience and care, German companies can gain access to a high-potential, growth-oriented market, particularly in nearshoring.
Focus Areas and Cooperation Potentials of Egypt
As the second largest economy in Africa, Egypt offers great potential for economic cooperation and investment. Its geographical location makes Egypt an important gateway to the Arab-speaking world and a bridge to the African and Arab economies. Issues with particular relevance for foreign trade and investment policy include climate action, renewable energy, waste management and healthcare. These are sectors where there is great potential for cooperation between German and Egyptian companies.
Business in Egypt – Opportunities for German Companies
Egypt is strategically positioned in global trade and, due to its market size, is well-positioned as the “Gateway to Africa” and the Arab Region according to the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2022. It is gaining importance as a regional logistics hub, production, and distribution centre. Important sectors of the manufacturing industry include food, textiles, and building materials. Egyptian agriculture is vital for employment in the country. The export of several agricultural products is growing, but water scarcity requires water-efficient varieties, efficient irrigation, and the use of treated wastewater. This opens up potential for sustainable approaches in green technology, also for German companies.
Industry Focus and Participant Profiles
Partnering in Business with Germany is open to executives from all sectors. In the last few years, a large number of managers from Egypt working in the fields of mechanical engineering, construction and the food industry have taken part in the programme. Other priority issues include automation, electronics, Industrie 4.0, renewable energy (particularly hydrogen production) and healthcare. There is also demand in the fields of the textile industry, the circular economy and water management.
Egypt’s alumni organisation – the Egyptian Association for Industry and Development (EGYAID) – provides support and networking opportunities with German companies for former Egyptian participants of the programme. It is working closely with the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
‘We now have a reliable partner for orders in Africa.’
German-Egyptian business cooperation in the construction industry: Siddharth Sharma from German mechanical engineering company Loesche and Ahmed Fathelbab, managing director of Egyptian engineering company El-Fateh, which specialises in steel structures, are promoting a sustainable construction industry in Africa.
