The push comes as part of a broader strategy to increase the role of the innovation economy in the country’s GDP, backed by high-level coordination through a ministerial group for entrepreneurship.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom made the remarks during a meeting with Osama Saleh, the Chairman of AYADY for Investment and Development, affiliated with the National Investment Bank (NIB), to explore ways to enhance the startup ecosystem and provide a more enabling business environment.

Founded in 2015 through a partnership between the planning ministry and a group of quasi-government entities, AYADY was established as a private investment vehicle to support economic development in Egypt by expanding access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The company positions itself as a commercially driven investor with a development mandate, aiming to back projects that contribute to economic growth while maintaining financial sustainability across its portfolio.

“The government is keen to introduce more enabling mechanisms and supportive measures to boost the competitiveness of startups and increase their contribution to the economy,” Rostom said.

He added that the meeting falls within a series of ongoing consultations with affiliated entities and relevant stakeholders to build on previous efforts, most notably the launch of the Startup Charter, and to develop executive mechanisms to strengthen the contribution of the innovation economy to Egypt’s GDP.

Rostom noted that further coordination among ministries is expected in the coming period under the ministerial group for entrepreneurship, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa, alongside efforts to maximize the role of ministry-affiliated entities in supporting the sector.

A key focus of the discussions was leveraging the capabilities of the NIB and AYADY to introduce new financing windows targeting startups and entrepreneurs, and supporting the ministry’s economic clusters initiative aimed at strengthening local value chains and stimulating productive activities across governorates.

For his part, Saleh said AYADY has aligned its strategy with the government’s vision to expand public-private partnerships and increase private sector participation in economic activity through joint investments.

He noted that the company has built a diversified and flexible investment portfolio since its establishment, delivering both financial returns and developmental impact, particularly in sectors such as microfinance and consumer finance.

AYADY 's investments currently span around 24 governorates, Saleh added, noting that the breadth of its portfolio provides potential exit opportunities for private investors, whether through strategic partnerships or listings on the stock exchange.

NIB Managing Director Ashraf Negm and AYADY CEO Sara Amer were in attendance, along with representatives from the planning ministry and the Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre.

In recent years, the government has placed increasing emphasis on entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and innovation, particularly amid efforts to deepen private-sector engagement and diversify the economy.

Aiming to support around 5,000 startups across the country, the Ministerial Entrepreneurship Group launched a Startup Charter in February to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the sector. The charter expands their access to international markets and generates approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had stated.

It is intended to help startups address operational challenges and scale within Egypt’s economy, while setting out a clearer policy and legislative framework to govern the sector.