Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired a meeting Tuesday to review progress in the government’s privatization programme, reaffirming the state’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and maximizing returns on public assets. The meeting was attended by Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Public Enterprises Sector Mohamed El-Shimy, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib, General Authority for Investment and Free Zones CEO Hossam Heiba, and other senior officials.
Madbouly emphasized that this meeting is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to advance privatization, following the measures and reforms undertaken since the programme’s launch. He reiterated the government’s full commitment to sustaining this national initiative, highlighting significant investment opportunities in the public enterprise sector—whether through initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) or through strategic investors.
The Prime Minister stressed that enhancing governance, transparency, and competition within state-owned companies remains a top priority. To achieve this, the government continues to collaborate with specialized institutions to secure technical support, ensuring that privatization efforts align with global best practices. He noted that these efforts aim to boost the private sector’s role in economic activities, expanding ownership and increasing its contribution to Egypt’s economic growth.
“We aim to expand private sector participation and increase its role across different economic activities, in line with our strategic objectives,” Madbouly stated. He explained that the privatization timeline depends on key factors, including the readiness of targeted companies for listing and market conditions at both local and international levels.
Cabinet Spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsany provided an update on the privatization programme, outlining the companies that have already been listed, upcoming offerings, and future candidates for privatization across various sectors. The discussion highlighted the importance of sustaining privatization efforts, emphasizing the need to attract foreign direct investment, increase market participation, and diversify ownership on the EGX.
El-Homsany also noted that privatization strengthens the government’s financial position, enhances capital market depth, and improves Egypt’s attractiveness as an investment destination. By accelerating these efforts, the state seeks to unlock new economic opportunities, increase investor confidence, and reinforce the private sector’s role in driving economic growth.
