Egypt launches platform to boost SME access to development finance

Building on that, authorities unveiled a new bilingual digital platform to expand private sector access to development finance and international tenders this week.

The platform, HAFIED (Hub for Advisory, Finance, and Investment for Enterprises with DFIs), was launched during the US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum, which concluded Monday in Cairo.

HAFIED is designed to consolidate funding streams, training, technical assistance, and tender information from more than 50 development finance institutions (DFIs).

Officials say the goal is to lower access barriers for SMEs and startups that often struggle to navigate complex financing channels.

Tamer Taha, Advisor to the Minister and head of the Private Sector Participation Unit at the Ministry of Planning said that lack of access is not the only hurdle—many businesses are unaware of what types of financing are available or how to pursue them.

“The issue is not only access to finance,” Taha said during a panel at the forum. “It’s knowing where and how to access the right kind of finance that matches the private sector’s needs.”

The platform offers services in Arabic and English, focusing on small businesses and early-stage ventures.

Despite the scale of Egypt’s private sector, Taha noted that international tenders and development finance options remain significantly underused.

According to World Bank data, Egypt currently ranks 57th among DFI beneficiary countries.

“We believe this platform can unlock billions in potential by guiding Egyptian businesses toward available international opportunities,” he said.

The US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum drew representatives from more than 55 US companies across 11 sectors.

In addition to finance, sessions addressed employment, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation.

Taha also highlighted domestic initiatives to support youth employment and tech startups, including Victoria, a program backed by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi.

With Generation Z expected to make up 44 percent of the workforce by 2030, officials say such efforts are central to long-term labour planning.

“Egypt is not only strategically located between Asia, Africa, and Europe,” Taha said. “It’s also becoming a hub for data, technology, and entrepreneurship.”

Officials say the launch of HAFIED reflects broader efforts to strengthen public-private cooperation and improve access to global economic networks.