Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Rostom, has said the state is seeking to build a cross-border “co-innovation” model with African countries, highlighting the role of entrepreneurship in driving economic transformation and strengthening regional integration.
Rostom made the remarks on Friday during a high-level session titled Entrepreneurship in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges at the inaugural El Alamein-Africa Forum, held in El Alamein from October 2 to 4, 2026.
He said supporting start-ups is no longer optional but a key driver of structural economic transformation, increased productivity, and the creation of sustainable, globally competitive jobs.
Rostom said Egypt’s vision extends beyond increasing the number of start-ups to building an integrated ecosystem that supports their growth and sustainability while linking them to strategic sectors, including manufacturing, artificial intelligence, green industries and financial technology.
He noted that ongoing structural reforms had helped the Egyptian economy withstand and adapt to regional and global challenges, with economic growth reaching 5.1% in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The minister also stressed the importance of decentralising entrepreneurship, saying innovation should extend beyond Cairo to Upper Egypt, the Delta and the Suez Canal region, while improving young people’s access to finance and business incubators.
At the regional level, Rostom described Africa as a strategic priority and called for viewing the continent as an integrated economic system rather than merely a collection of export markets.
He proposed developing a “co-innovation” model between Egyptian and African entrepreneurs based on technology exchange and cross-border regional value chains.
He said deeper integration and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) required “patient capital” and a stronger role for venture capital capable of managing the challenges of investing in Africa.
The El Alamein-Africa Forum is being held alongside the NEPAD founding countries summit, jointly organised by Egypt, Afreximbank and the African Union Commission, with around 1,500 business and financial leaders from across Africa taking part.
