File Photo: EGX building. Photo courtesy of Kuna.
As per a cabinet statement on Monday, Farid said such a move could boost market efficiency, competitiveness, and investor confidence.
He made these remarks during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the government headquarters in the New Capital to review plans to expand listings on the Egyptian Exchange in 2026 as part of the government’s initial public offering (IPO) programme.
Empowering the private sector by raising its share in the national economy and reducing the state's footprint in economic activity is a key pillar of the ongoing $8 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan that Egypt secured from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
An IMF mission concluded an 11-day visit to Egypt this month to discuss the fifth and sixth reviews of the EFF, along with the first review of the recently approved $1.3 billion Resilience and Stability Facility (RSF) loan deal.
The two sides reached a staff-level agreement on the EFF reviews, with completion expected in January 2026.
Farid noted that the proposed amendments would align the EGX with the structure of most regional and international stock exchanges, provided favourable conditions are in place.
He added that such a step would send a strong signal of the state’s commitment to implementing the government IPO programme, enhance the value of state assets, and increase the exchange’s market capitalization.
The FRA is also studying the potential listing of central depository and clearing companies, a move aimed at improving transparency, governance, and financial and operational performance.
According to cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsany, the meeting reviewed the latest developments related to the plan to offer more companies on the Egyptian Exchange in 2026.
He said the coming year is expected to witness an increase in IPOs, supported by improved investor appetite and a broader range of targeted sectors, as several state-owned companies are currently being prepared for listing ahead of public offerings.
The meeting also discussed ongoing legislative reviews aimed at stimulating financial markets and raising market capitalization, alongside measures to enhance trading efficiency and increase trading volumes on the exchange.
Madbouly stressed that the planned listings fall within the framework of the government's IPO programme, which aims to expand private-sector participation in economic activity, widen ownership bases in state-owned companies, improve management efficiency, and strengthen competitiveness across productive and service sectors.
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