As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial environment in Egypt, the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation participated in the 12th edition of the RiseUp Summit, held from May 8 to 10, with the participation of more than 200 regional and international investors, 350 innovative startups, and 20,000 entrepreneurs and innovators from across the region.
Representatives from the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation participated in the opening session of the RiseUp 2025 summit, under the title “Empowering Startups: Government Supportive Policies.”, in the presence Mr. Tamer Taha, Advisor to the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Head of the Private Sector Participation Unit at the ministry; Mr. Sherif El-Kilany, Deputy Minister of Finance; Mr. Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI); and Ms. Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Tax Authority.
During the session, Mr. Tamer Taha emphasized the role of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, chaired by Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, to stimulate the startup and entrepreneurship environment, and her directives to expedite the launch of a Startup Charter, which will be announced soon and will effectively contribute to enhancing the entrepreneurship environment, accelerated economic growth, and increasing the country's competitiveness.
He pointed out that by 2030, 44% of the Egyptian labor market will be Gen Z, explaining the characteristics of this generation and their aspirations in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation, confirming the need to preserve these talents and take advantage of the fertile investment nature of the Egyptian market, which is a strong indicator and a great opportunity to attract venture capital investments, provide decent jobs and promote economic growth.
He explained the importance of the government's role in supporting the entrepreneurship environment, as the government is taking steady and effective steps in this area, noting that the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship is working on developing supportive policies for entrepreneurship, facilitating access to global markets, emphasizing the need to retain talent and coordinate initiatives and projects that support entrepreneurship, in addition to linking startup innovations to development challenges.
The Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation had a pavilion during the three-day conference, where entrepreneurs were introduced to the group's goals and its role in supporting and empowering startups, as well as receiving participants' suggestions that could be included in the ongoing 'Egypt’s Startup Charter'.
The pavilion also provided information about the services provided by the ministry to the business community, including the Hub for Advisory, Finance & Investment for Enterprises, which aims to connect companies with investors and provide technical and technological support.
The ministry also participated in organizing a high-level panel discussion entitled "Untapped Opportunities for African Entrepreneurship Roundtable" in collaboration with RiseUp and Entlaq. This session witnessed the participation of numerous African investors, regional supporting entities, and policymakers aimed at opening new avenues for entrepreneurship on the continent and exchanging views on ways to enhance investments in the continent.