Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) CEO Hossam Heiba has participated in the Deep Tech Entrepreneurship Summit organised by the Electronics Research Institute in Cairo (ERI), aimed at fostering connections between researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and industry experts. Heiba outlined the role of GAFI's permanent unit for entrepreneurship and startups, which works to translate the state's strategic goals into actionable mechanisms to enhance the fast-growing sector. The unit has developed databases on startup needs and growth opportunities and studied the experiences of over 20 countries, paving the way for a new strategy with specific targets for the number of startups, growth rates, and priority sectors. Heiba noted that a memorandum of understanding that was signed last year between the entrepreneurship unit and the Electronics Research Institute helped strengthen links between startups, the scientific community, and the investment ecosystem. He stressed that government support and coordination have attracted rising investments into Egypt's entrepreneurship sector while enabling local startups to expand regionally and internationally. This, he said, brings benefits to the Egyptian economy through higher revenues, stronger technical capabilities, and the creation of more high-value jobs. Heiba added that GAFI also incorporates localisation of technology and innovation as a criterion for awarding investment incentives and the golden licence, giving innovative companies a competitive advantage in the Egyptian market. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
