US companies delegation leaves Cairo with renewed investment confidence

Over 55 American companies participated in the forum to explore Egypt's investment opportunities.

Senior Egyptian and US officials reaffirmed their strategic relationship during this landmark event, highlighting closer cooperation on trade, investment, and regional diplomacy amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Ahram Online interviewed Steve Lutes, Executive Director for Middle East Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce, to shed light on the key outcomes of the forum and the impressions the US business community brought back regarding the investment climate and doing business in Egypt.

Ahram Online (AO): Please brief us on the key outcomes of the successful Policy Leaders Forum in Cairo.

Steve Lutes (SL): I want first to convey that we are honoured to be in Egypt at the invitation of H.E. President Sisi, with Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the US Chamber, in partnership with John Christmann, CEO of Apache and Chairman of the US-Egypt Business Council, leading a large delegation of business leaders that reflects the diversity of our bilateral economic relationship. Stepping back and looking at the forum through a broader lens, our visit—carried out in cooperation with our friends at AmCham Egypt—sends an important message that the US Chamber and our member companies continue to stand with our Egyptian partners in both government and business, and remain committed to Egypt's economic future at a time when the country faces ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges. Sending this signal of continued determination to work in partnership with Egyptian leaders to increase trade and investment was perhaps the most valuable outcome.

With everyone so busy, the forum brought leaders from American business together with top Egyptian officials and businesspeople to focus and explore how we can collaborate more concretely to grow our bilateral commercial relationship and contribute to our shared prosperity. Through the forum, we learned about tangible projects and initiatives in several sectors that the government is undertaking and where it is looking for private sector partners and investors. We also used the platform to raise concerns about ongoing issues critical to American companies doing business in Egypt, such as taxation and intellectual property rights. And we had an opportunity to look ahead in some areas. For example, when you consider Egypt's plans in AI and its national strategy, joined with the innovative prowess of American technology companies and their ambitions for Egypt, there's incredible promise for collaboration that builds on an already solid foundation of partnership in Egypt's digital economy. Of course, a critical pillar of that cooperation is the government working with industry to develop a regulatory ecosystem that supports innovation and investment.

While it takes time to materialise, I am confident that the forum has served as a catalyst for deeper engagement on the policy front that will ultimately drive more partnerships, trade, and investment to our mutual benefit.