Egypt is ramping up efforts to spur entrepreneurship and expand its tax base, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said Sunday at the Cairo ICT conference, unveiling plans that leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to streamline tax compliance. Kouchouk highlighted a new initiative with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) to provide affordable financing for young entrepreneurs, part of a broader strategy to support productive sectors and foster private-sector growth. The minister said incentives will soon be announced for the first 100,000 taxpayers joining Egypt's simplified, integrated tax system. "The focus is on expanding the tax base while partnering with businesses to simplify procedures," Kouchouk said, noting plans to launch advanced customer service centers and specialised Tax and Customs units. A second round of tax facilitation measures will open for public consultation in December, targeting long-term, compliant taxpayers and offering incentives for activities including registration and stock market participation. AI and digitalisation are central to the plan, Kouchouk said, enabling real-time monitoring of state revenues and expenditures, improving forecasting, and easing access to information for investors and taxpayers. A mobile app for real estate taxes and a comprehensive industrial risk-management platform are also in the works. During a tour of the eFinance and eTax pavilions, Kouchouk praised private-sector partners for driving Egypt's digital transformation, emphasising that technology and AI will be pivotal in modernising tax administration and improving service delivery. The announcements reflect Egypt's push to enhance the business environment, encourage compliance, and leverage technology to accelerate economic growth, as the government seeks to attract investment and expand domestic productivity. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
