Egypt expects to have four new public free zones ready by the end of 2026 in a bid to expand industrial investment and boost exports, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) said on Sunday.
According to the State Information Service, the decision follows approval on August 11 by the ministerial group for industrial development after occupancy at Egypt’s nine existing free zones reached 95 percent.
The new zones will be located in 10th of Ramadan, New October, New Borg El-Arab and New Alamein.
New free zones to help Egypt reach $140 billion in exports
Hossam Heiba, CEO of GAFI, said production from the new zones will be directed exclusively to exports to help Egypt meet its target of $140 billion in annual exports by 2030. He added that the move aims to avoid competing with domestic producers while promoting fair investment practices and supporting green transition goals.
It also aims to maximize the benefits of investment incentive policies, focusing on green transformation and environmental compliance in the export sectors, and ensuring the success of strategies targeting foreign markets with Egyptian products.
Heiba added that GAFI is working with the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) to speed up infrastructure development in the new zones. He also noted that the activation of three more public free zones is currently under discussion, doubling the number of public free zones to 16, following the success of this system in achieving sustainable growth in Egyptian exports.
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Working group to develop operating mechanisms
Egypt’s government has positioned free zones as a key driver of export growth under its investment for exports strategy, designed to attract foreign investors and expand the country’s industrial base.
The authority’s CEO agreed with the attendees to form a working group comprising representatives from all industrial sectors to develop the operating mechanisms of the public free zones and propose ways to achieve the desired goals.
According to the latest data released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypt recorded a significant boost in exports in April 2025, narrowing its trade deficit and signaling growth despite ongoing global trade headwinds. Egypt’s exports rose 19.8 percent in April 2025 to $4.1 billion, up from $3.43 billion in April 2024. This surge was largely driven by a 74.3 percent increase in exports of petroleum products, a 24.7 percent increase in ready-made clothes and an 18.4 percent increase in fertilizer exports.
The strong export figures come amid a government push to incentivize industrial production and attract foreign investment through the National Industrial Development Strategy, which aims to advance Egyptian industry, enhance competitiveness and increase exports.
This strategy forms part of the urgent industrial development plan, which is a practical, executable step towards localizing industry, deepening domestic manufacturing, transforming Egypt into a regional industrial hub, transitioning to a green economy, and increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP and exports, while raising the quality of Egyptian products to the highest standards and improving human resource efficiency.
