Bundestag's Alexander Radwan: Egypt Has a Historic Opportunity to Attract German Investment

Dr. Alexander Radwan, Member of the German Bundestag and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, affirmed that the global economic and geopolitical transformations currently underway present Egypt with an unprecedented opportunity to become one of the most important new destinations for German and European investment, as many companies seek to diversify their investments and reduce dependence on traditional markets, foremost among them China.

Radwan explained that Germany is not moving to end its economic presence in China, but rather to reduce reliance on a single market. This is prompting German companies to look for new production and investment hubs. He stressed that Egypt has many advantages that qualify it to benefit from this shift, foremost among them its geographic proximity to Europe, its large market of more than 120 million people, and its position as a natural gateway to African and Arab markets.

He noted that German investors always look for a set of key factors before making investment decisions, including stability, the rule of law, a clear legislative framework, simplified procedures, and the availability of qualified labor. He added that Egypt has an additional advantage: graduates who speak German and understand German work culture, which gives German companies greater confidence when considering investment in the Egyptian market.

In this context, Radwan praised the role played by the German University in Cairo, under the leadership of Prof. Ashraf Mansour, stressing that the university has not only prepared qualified human resources for the labor market, but has also become an active partner in supporting the investment climate and strengthening economic cooperation between Egypt and Germany.

During the meeting, Prof. Ashraf Mansour presented Dr. Alexander Radwan with the German-language version of Egypt’s Investment Law, translated by the German University in Cairo. The translation aims to introduce German investors to Egypt’s modern investment legislation and make it easier for them to understand the legal environment governing investment in Egypt.

Radwan described this initiative as an important practical step, emphasizing that clear legislation and easy access to it in investors’ own languages are essential elements in building trust and encouraging German companies to explore investment opportunities in Egypt.

The Bundestag member also shared a personal experience from meetings with German investors, who had asked whether there was an international agreement between Egypt and Germany to protect and promote investments, considering it a key condition before making investment decisions. He added that many were unaware that such an agreement already existed until Egypt’s Ambassador in Berlin, Mohamed El-Badri, highlighted and reintroduced it. This helped correct an important perception among the German business community and opened the door to new discussions during economic forums between the two countries.

Radwan stressed that attracting investment does not depend on a single factor, but rather on an integrated system that includes quality education, qualified human capital, the rule of law, access to markets, reduced bureaucracy, and effective financing mechanisms through national and European development banks to support joint projects.

He pointed out that Egypt offers promising opportunities in several sectors, including engineering industries, software, digital transformation, tourism, and healthcare services. He noted that major German companies such as Siemens already rely on Egyptian engineers and programmers for software development, reflecting the high level of Egyptian talent and its ability to compete globally.

Radwan concluded with a message that carried both economic and human dimensions, saying that if he were to invest in Egypt, he would choose to export Egyptian mangoes to Germany, as they are among the finest products he has ever known. He added with a smile: “In Germany, we can buy almost everything, but we cannot find Egyptian mangoes,” indicating that Egypt has high-quality products that deserve a place in European markets, just as it deserves greater investment in the coming phase.