Egypt’s seventh Conference for Egyptians Abroad called for expanding investment opportunities for citizens living overseas, including in land, real estate and industrial projects, according to recommendations issued at the end of the two-day event in Cairo on Monday.
The conference urged closer coordination between the government and relevant national authorities to provide incentives, flexible payment schemes and greater access to investment opportunities, including a planned industrial investment fund.
It also called for promoting these opportunities through Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad and simplifying procedures for overseas investors through the General Authority for Investment.
The recommendations encouraged wider use of Egypt’s digital services platform and financial technology tools, allowing Egyptians abroad to manage transactions and investments remotely and strengthening their links to the country’s digital economy.
The conference also called for expanding educational services for Egyptians overseas, including the full rollout of the “Your School in Egypt” platform in countries with large Egyptian communities. It urged increased access for their children to Egyptian universities, including private, civil and technological institutions, as well as broader tuition incentives.
Participants recommended expanding the “Speak Arabic” presidential initiative, which aims to strengthen national identity among Egyptian children abroad and familiarise them with the country’s history, culture and modern achievements.
They also called for alternative ways to deliver the programme’s content amid possible restrictions in some countries on children’s use of social media, as well as wider online Arabic-language teaching for non-Arabic-speaking children of Egyptians abroad.
The conference urged continued support for second- and third-generation Egyptians overseas through virtual programmes, educational visits to Egypt and youth training initiatives. It also called for strengthening the Youth Egyptian Network Abroad and making use of young Egyptians’ expertise in national development efforts.
Other recommendations included continued cultural activities, including the Egyptian Expatriates Cultural Salon, and greater attention to the mental health of Egyptian families abroad through possible virtual meetings with specialists.
The conference also called for completing initiatives such as “Your Home in Egypt” and “Your Farm in Egypt”, promoting the “Open Your Account in Egypt” programme, updating bank customer data and accelerating the launch of a medical tourism platform under the “Your Treatment in Egypt” initiative.
It recommended expanding the “Your Insurance in Egypt” programme and introducing additional benefits under its accident insurance policy, creating a broader emergency protection system for Egyptians living overseas.
Participants further called for regulating organisations representing Egyptians abroad, improving communication between expatriates and members of parliament, and creating mechanisms to examine and benefit from their ideas, expertise and scientific knowledge.
The conference stressed the need to continue digitising and improving consular services, simplifying procedures and reducing processing times for services including passport issuance and renewal. It also urged the swift launch of the first phase of an interactive website for consular services.
The conference praised measures by Egypt’s Defence Ministry to help young Egyptians abroad regularise their military status and recommended considering the relaunch of an initiative for those under 30.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nabil Habashi said preparations would begin immediately for the eighth Conference for Egyptians Abroad.
