A high-level Canadian business mission concluded its five-day visit to Egypt this week, marking a new push to deepen bilateral economic ties and paving the way for new investment, technology transfer, and long-term partnerships across key sectors.
Organised by the Egypt-Canada Business Council (CEBC), the mission brought together 22 senior Canadian business leaders representing healthcare, real estate, financial services, education, manufacturing, the circular economy, and immigration services under the leadership of CEBC Chairman Moataz Raslan.
The visit comes as Egypt intensifies efforts to attract higher-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), with the council targeting an increase in Canadian investments in Egypt to $2.2 billion by 2026.
“The mission reflects a strategic shift from short-term trade to long-term institutional partnerships,” Raslan told Al-Ahram Weekly. “Our goal is to build a modern economic bridge between Egypt and Canada by aligning Canadian technology and expertise with Egypt’s industrial capacity and strategic location,” he added.
The healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector featured prominently on the agenda of the mission, with Canadian executives representing more than 99 per cent of the country’s private pharmacy sector. Talks centred on preventive healthcare solutions, early screening for chronic diseases, and digital follow-up systems.
In real estate, the discussions focused on transferring Canadian expertise in Multiple Listing Services (MLS), brokerage platforms, and customer relationship management systems to support Egypt’s property market digitisation.
Financial services sessions explored the regulatory feasibility of Islamic mortgage models and Sharia-compliant financing products as tools to enhance financial inclusion.
Sustainability and education were also high on the agenda, with cooperation in plastic recycling technologies under the circular economy framework being prominent along with partnerships between Egyptian universities and institutions such as the University of Toronto to introduce simulation-based learning and international preparation programmes.
In industry, furniture and leather manufacturers examined ways to blend Canadian design with Egyptian craftsmanship to boost exports to North American luxury markets.
The Canadian delegation met with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss renewable energy, green hydrogen, sustainable agriculture, and water management, alongside Egypt’s investment facilitation reforms, including the golden license and the one-stop shop system.
Raslan told the Weekly that the discussions had confirmed Egypt’s position as a regional gateway for Canadian companies. “Egypt offers a unique zero-customs advantage on manufactured goods and world-class logistics through the Suez Canal Economic Zone, giving Canadian firms direct access to Africa, Europe and the Middle East,” he noted.
Meetings were also held with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and officials of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, while an official reception at the Canadian ambassador’s residence marked the formal close of the mission.
“What distinguishes this mission is its practical orientation. Every meeting was designed around implementation, from regulatory pathways and financing models to technology localisation. We are no longer discussing potential; we are structuring projects,” Raslan explained.
He added that Canadian investors increasingly view Egypt not only as a market, but as a production and export base, asserting that this shift is critical to positioning Egypt as a continental platform for North American investment.
Speaking to the Weekly, President of the CEBC and head of the Canadian delegation to Egypt Miranda Guirguis said the council is redefining its role from a traditional networking platform into a driver of transformative investment.
“We are moving beyond trade to embed Canadian knowledge and technology in high-value Egyptian sectors, from digital healthcare and property tech to circular economy solutions,” Guirguis said.
“Egypt is also our strategic platform for North American investors looking to expand into Africa,” she added.
Guirguis noted that healthcare, real-estate technology, and higher education offer the fastest opportunities for joint projects, given the strong alignment between Egypt’s development priorities and Canada’s technical capabilities.
She also stressed that the ECBC priority is to ensure that partnerships translate into real operational presence, not just memoranda of understanding. “Success will be measured by factories, clinics, campuses and digital platforms on the ground,” she confirmed.
She also highlighted the fact that Egypt currently offers a rare combination of scale, reform momentum, and regional reach, making it one of the most compelling destinations for Canadian companies seeking sustainable growth.
Both Raslan and Guirguis stressed that the mission’s outcomes will be institutionalised through a joint task force to monitor projects and facilitate continuous business matchmaking, alongside plans to organise a dedicated Egypt-Canada Economic Forum.
“We are working towards $2.2 billion in cumulative Canadian investments by 2026, while ensuring that every project delivers real economic and social value on the ground,” Raslan said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 22 January, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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