Egypt’s Top Ministers Launch Major Entrepreneurship Initiative

A major new entrepreneurship initiative has been formally launched in Egypt, backed by several key government ministries. The third annual Entlaq Summit commenced in El Gouna, marking the release of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025). This high-profile event operates under the patronage of a powerful Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, which includes the ministries of Planning and Economic Development, Investment and Foreign Trade, and Tourism and Antiquities, alongside the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority. The summit also benefits from partnerships with numerous institutions dedicated to strengthening the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In a recorded video address, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, outlined the ambitious goals of the Egypt Startup Charter. She confirmed that the initiative has the full backing of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. The charter aims to empower over 5,000 startups and generate half a million new jobs within five years, positioning Egypt as a regional and global leader in building an innovation-driven economy.

The gathering enjoys robust support from the private sector, with Egypt Air, Talabat, and Keheilan Asset Management serving as platinum sponsors. Gold sponsors include prominent names such as e& Egypt, Flat6Labs, Sawari Ventures, and Dar El Nahda for Printing and Publishing. This diverse sponsorship underscores a collective commitment from technology firms, venture capital companies, and cultural institutions to bolster Egypt’s business environment and its status as a hub for innovation.

Attendees comprise a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from senior government officials and decision-makers to successful entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives of major financial institutions. The summit also welcomes leaders from startups, accelerators, and incubators, alongside experts in technology and sustainable development. This convergence creates a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge, celebrating achievements, and identifying new opportunities in the Egyptian and regional markets.

The event began with a press conference introducing the SDR 2025. As Entlaq’s flagship publication, this evidence-based report delivers a thorough analysis of Egypt’s entrepreneurial economy. It examines startups across different sectors and geographic areas, connecting economic data with legal, institutional, and policy contexts. The document firmly establishes entrepreneurship as a critical force for economic resilience, inclusivity, and innovation, going beyond mere GDP contribution.

While the report acknowledges persistent challenges like regulatory hurdles, funding disparities, and structural gaps, it approaches these issues with a data-driven methodology. It identifies specific obstacles, proposes clear reform strategies, and connects its analysis to the actual experiences of startup founders and existing public policies.

The summit’s agenda features four primary panel discussions on vital subjects. The first session examines how macroeconomic reforms can stimulate investment, and the second tackles Egypt’s significant capital gap, estimated at one billion US dollars.

Omar Rezk, Managing Director of Entlaq, described the summit as a crucial strategic platform emerging during a period of substantial economic change. He pointed to a sharp decline in startup investments, which fell from $608 million in 2023 to just $334 million in 2024. Similarly, Egypt’s portion of regional venture capital funding dropped from 25% in 2021 to 11% in 2024. Rezk stated that the summit is designed to highlight necessary reforms and help restore investor confidence.

He emphasized that the event goes beyond simply outlining problems. It presents a practical, data-informed vision built on more than 400 surveys and 15 in-depth interviews with investors and regulators. This approach diagnoses ecosystem weaknesses, whether in financing, geographic concentration, or regulation, and proposes actionable solutions.

Rezk also highlighted the summit’s focus on empowering youth and women. Report data reveals a stark disparity: while women constitute 38% of founders, they secured a mere 1.3% of total investment deals between 2023 and 2024. In the first half of 2025, this figure remained below 2%. He affirmed that addressing this funding gap is essential for fostering inclusive growth and solidifying entrepreneurship as a genuine engine for job creation and economic diversification.

In closing, Rezk noted that the summit acts as a vital meeting point for the public and private sectors. This collaboration is key to cementing Egypt’s position as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, directly supporting the nation’s Vision 2030 and the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Entlaq operates as a leading think tank focused on transforming the entrepreneurial landscape across Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa. Its mission centers on driving innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and amplifying the impact of investment to build a more inclusive and competitive business ecosystem for the region.

(Source: MEA Tech Watch)