Ibrahim Sarhan, the Chairperson of e-finance, revealed that the company plans to invest EGP 2bn over the next two years, pointing out that these investments are the outcome of the company's capital increase. He told Daily News Egypt that part of those investments will be allocated to expanding non-banking financial activities through Khales Digital Payments, and another part will be directed to developing the group's technological infrastructure. He pointed out that Khales has submitted a request to the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to obtain a license to practice microfinance and consumer finance. Sarhan also revealed that his company achieved a growth rate of more than 40% last year, pointing out that the company invested about EGP 250m in the digitisation of the transportation sector through its subsidiary E-cards. The company is expected to inject the same rate of investments this year and penetrate the tourism sector through the company E-aswaaq and invest in new digital solutions for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. In a related context, he explained that the agreement signed to digitise medical services in Zimbabwe with TGI is the first step towards operating in African countries. He pointed out that the company also sees promising opportunities in Libya and Iraq during the coming period. Sarhan pointed out that penetrating the African market came after a study that emphasised the importance of having a partner in those countries, which is the appropriate business model. Additionally, the partnership will provide services in six other countries besides Zimbabwe. He revealed that the product provided is not limited to launching cards, but also includes integrated digital solutions specialised in healthcare. He noted that these services are similar to the digital solutions provided to the E-health platform of E-finance Holding. The company will manage these cards through the technological infrastructure of E-cards, which represents one of the company's strategic goals in its expansion policy in Africa.
