Egypt’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kojak, announced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening Egypt’s investment environment, facilitating trade, and supporting private sector growth.

Key initiatives include exempting transit goods and related services from Value Added Tax (VAT) to encourage transit trade and reinforce Egypt’s role as a regional logistics hub. The government is also working to standardise customs clearance procedures for containers, which will simplify import and export processes and reduce administrative delays.

In coordination with the Ministries of Investment and Industry and the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the Ministry of Finance is reviewing parts of the customs tariff structure to better align with industrial development priorities and support local production.

To encourage private sector participation in major projects, the government will allow interest on foreign loans for strategic national projects to be deducted from companies’ taxable income, improving financial incentives for investors.

Additionally, the Ministry will introduce temporary tax cards valid for 60 days, enabling new businesses to begin operations immediately while completing their formal registration. This measure aims to accelerate company establishment while reducing the risk of fictitious entities.

Overall, these steps form part of the government’s broader strategy to improve the ease of doing business, enhance trade competitiveness, and attract both domestic and foreign investment to Egypt.