Egypt Unveils Startup Charter to Support Entrepreneurs

Egypt has launched its first-ever Startup Charter, bringing together all government services, permits, and support mechanisms for startups under a single, unified framework, in a move described as a major shift in how the state engages with entrepreneurs and innovators.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the launch ceremony on Tuesday, alongside Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Head of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship.

The initiative comes in the implementation of directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to expand state support for startups, innovation, and emerging businesses.

The Startup Charter is the first of its kind in Egypt and represents a qualitative transformation in government policy toward the startup ecosystem.

It was developed following more than a year of consultations involving 15 national entities and over 250 representatives from the startup community, entrepreneurs, members of parliament, and other stakeholders, under the umbrella of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship.

The launch event, hosted at the Grand Egyptian Museum, was attended by several ministers who are members of the entrepreneurship ministerial group, the Governor of Giza, a number of ambassadors, as well as members of the technical secretariat and working groups. Participants included representatives of startups, venture capital funds, and supporting institutions.

The announcement coincided with the opening activities of the 13th annual edition of the RiseUp Summit, one of the region’s leading platforms for startups and innovation, underscoring the government’s aim to integrate public policy with the needs of Egypt’s fast-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Officials said the charter is designed to simplify procedures, unify government interaction with startups, and create a more enabling environment for business creation, growth, and investment, positioning Egypt as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.