Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said on Sunday the government is studying incentive measures to boost growth in productive sectors and entrepreneurship, and is working with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency on a new low-cost financing initiative aimed at supporting young people and encouraging start-ups.
He said the simplified, integrated tax system had proven successful and that new incentives would soon be announced for the first 100,000 new taxpayers joining the scheme.
Speaking during an open dialogue with tech companies at the Cairo ICT conference, the minister said expanding the tax base was a priority within a genuine partnership with the business community.
He added that the ministry aims to establish premium customer-service centers offering advanced technology-based support, along with specialized units within the tax and customs authorities to streamline procedures, with gradual expansion planned.
He said a second package of tax facilitations will be put forward for public consultation in December to support long-standing compliant taxpayers, through practical solutions to tax challenges and incentives for certain activities such as registration and stock-market dealings.
He added that the ministry is developing a comprehensive risk-management framework designed to more effectively support investors.
Kouchouk said the real estate tax system will include a mobile application offering simplified services for citizens, stressing the importance of using artificial intelligence to better communicate information to investors and those dealing with the Finance Ministry and its agencies.
He added that the government now monitors state revenues and expenditures in real time, helping it make timely decisions. The vast amount of data generated through digitization and automation, he said, presents a strong opportunity to invest in AI, which can provide deeper analytics and improve forecasting, service quality and responsiveness to citizens’ needs.
During a tour of the e-Finance and e-Tax pavilions, Kouchouk praised their role in supporting Egypt’s digital-transformation efforts.
He said the ministry is working with them to digitize and simplify all procedures, stressing the importance of using AI across the tax system to make processes easier for taxpayers.
