Mohamed Awad, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), conducted an inspection tour of the Alexandria Investors Services Centre and the Alexandria Public Free Zone to review operational performance and assess progress on development plans aimed at enhancing investor services and improving the business environment. The visit was carried out in line with directives from Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, to maintain continuous field monitoring of efforts to improve the investment climate and facilitate procedures for investors. During the tour, Awad stressed the importance of upgrading the work environment within Investors Services Centres to ensure faster and more efficient service delivery. He called for intensified digital transformation efforts, enhanced workforce capabilities, and closer coordination with relevant government entities to simplify procedures and accelerate the issuance of approvals related to investment activities. He also underscored the need to continuously improve services provided to investors and their representatives, while incorporating feedback and proposals from both employees and service users. Such measures, he said, are essential to enhancing the investor experience and strengthening the competitiveness of Egypt’s business environment. Awad reviewed performance indicators for the Alexandria Investors Services Centre, which completed the incorporation procedures for more than 3,500 companies in 2025. The centre also provided post-establishment services to around 32,000 companies, highlighting the growing volume of investment activity in Alexandria and the centre’s key role in supporting the business community. The GAFI chief also examined progress on infrastructure development projects at the Alexandria Public Free Zone, including upgrades to electricity, water and sewage networks, as well as civil protection and firefighting systems. The projects are designed to improve utility efficiency, accommodate future expansions, and increase the production capacities of businesses operating within the zone. As part of GAFI’s efforts to strengthen its social responsibility initiatives, Awad inspected a nursery established within the Alexandria Public Free Zone to provide childcare services for employees’ children and support female staff in balancing professional responsibilities with career development opportunities. The Alexandria Public Free Zone currently hosts 416 projects with total investments of approximately $14.7bn and provides around 55,000 direct jobs, reinforcing its status as one of Egypt’s leading industrial and export hubs and a key contributor to the national economy. Awad also directed that the financial performance of free zone projects be monitored regularly, in line with directives from the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. He noted that continuous monitoring would enable the government to develop more responsive incentive policies tailored to the needs of different economic sectors and strengthen the contribution of free zones to expanding Egyptian exports in global markets. He praised the efforts of employees at the Alexandria Public Free Zone, highlighting their success in balancing the protection of state interests with the facilitation of investor procedures, thereby supporting investment sustainability and improving the overall business climate. Awad further noted that the Alexandria Public Free Zone ranks first among Egypt’s free zones in terms of export value. Free zones collectively account for approximately 22% of Egypt’s total merchandise exports, underscoring their pivotal role in advancing the country’s economic development agenda, enhancing the competitiveness of national exports, and creating employment opportunities. The post Alexandria Investors Services Centre delivers post-establishment services to 32,000 companies: GAFI first appeared on Dailynewsegypt.
