Can Egypt’s Startup Charter Unlock a New Era of Private Sector Growth?

All right, we're back. And now we're talking Egypt. Today, Egypt is sending a very clear message: the next phase of growth cannot depend only on large public projects or traditional sectors, as was the case before. It also has to come from the private sector — and increasingly from startups, SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and technology-driven businesses.
One way Egypt has signalled that shift is through the launch of the Startup and Entrepreneurship Charter. This is not just about supporting founders — it's about building a more organised ecosystem where startups can register, operate, access finance, and contribute to jobs, exports, and productivity. To discuss whether Egypt's startup push can become part of a broader private sector growth story, we are joined by economic and banking expert Dr. Shaimaa Waqih. Thank you very much for being with us today.
Thank you.
Let's start with what has changed, if anything, since the launch of the Startup and Entrepreneurship Charter. Do you see it mainly as a startup policy, or as part of a bigger shift in Egypt's economic strategy toward private sector-led growth?
At this time, we can speak about the Egyptian economy placing startup projects at the centre of its priorities. The economy is no longer depending solely on large companies, large projects, and large partnerships — it is now giving priority to small companies and providing them with a great deal of support. This includes financing arrangements made in collaboration with commercial banks, offering greater facilities to encourage these companies to operate and grow in Egypt. The economy is giving them the tools and the support to help lead the next phase of growth.
You have personally followed Egypt's stabilisation story very closely — rebuilding reserves, stabilising the pound, easing inflation. Does that macroeconomic stability have to come first? Is it the precondition that finally makes startup and private sector investment possible?
As an economist, stability is very important for any economy, and especially for Egypt as it looks to elevate a new sector to lead growth. When we speak about monetary policy and fiscal policy, indicators such as low inflation, low interest rates, and tax facilities all encourage startup projects to launch in Egypt and to expand their activities — particularly those related to innovation. Stability creates the environment in which that becomes possible.
Startups often need finance, but banks typically look for collateral, a track record, and predictable cash flows. From a banking perspective, what makes startup financing genuinely difficult?
It is a very significant challenge for commercial banks in Egypt to support startups and provide financing for them. Banks face major obstacles because startups often have no credit history, no prior banking relationship, and no established record of cash flows. This makes it difficult for commercial banks to assess what is essentially a new field, with innovation as a new trend in the market. These are big challenges, particularly in Egypt. One way forward is for banks to collaborate with fintech companies and form partnerships that help strike a balance — managing risk assessment indicators while still supporting finance and innovation for these startup companies.
And this is not the first time you've spoken about the role of the central bank and commercial banks in supporting small and medium-sized businesses. But how far can advisory support, financial education, and consulting take startups — even before we get into direct funding?
Before starting a business, you need advisors and consultants to support startup companies with knowledge — financial knowledge, financial analysis, market environment studies, and business planning. This type of company requires a dedicated and separate study, because it represents a new step in the market and a new trend. We need consultants and advisors who can study the market conditions, analyse cash flows in the new field, and develop business planning and market forecasting. Advisory support plays an important role in coordination with the banking system and risk management companies working in the same space — collaborating across different entities, consultants, and advisors, before the business even begins.
And in that regard, do you think Egyptian banks also need new tools to deal with startups? Some guests have pointed to alternative credit scoring, cash flow-based lending, and the possibility of partnering with fintech companies.
Egyptian banking cannot use the same traditional credit models — they are simply not suited to dealing with small and early-stage companies. Banks need to upgrade their credit models and credit assessment processes to become more automated, incorporating more technology into credit evaluation, risk assessment, and decision-making frameworks in order to deal effectively with startup companies. They also need to build connections with fintech companies to create more innovative models for engaging with new trends and new fields. In Egypt, we can develop new evaluation strategies related to credit and risk, and build combinations with fintech and risk management companies — not only inside the bank, but outside it as well — to drive greater profitability and help these companies lead the economy in the future.
And if the government wants startups to create jobs and attract investment, what role should banks play — lenders, advisors, investors, partners, or simply infrastructure providers?
A bank can play all of those roles. Work as a lender. Work as a provider. Work as a consultant. Work as a partner — to make the journey easier and to study the company alongside it. So the bank's role should not focus only on lending, but also on serving as a partner and advisor, both to the company and to the government at the same time. The outcome benefits both sides: the company grows, profitability increases, and the bank shares in Egypt's broader economic growth.
It's been a pleasure having you. Thank you very much for joining us.
Thank you.