Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohamed Farid, has emphasized the importance of supporting export-focused startups as part of the country's strategy to strengthen its export ecosystem, expand the base of new exporters, and improve Egypt's competitiveness in international markets.

The remarks came during a meeting with Eng. Adeeb Yousif Al Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), where both sides discussed expanding cooperation on export promotion, trade finance and insurance solutions, exporter capacity building, and enabling export startups to scale internationally.

AI and Fintech to Modernize Egypt's Export Ecosystem

The meeting explored a comprehensive vision for modernizing Egypt's export system through the use of artificial intelligence and financial technology (fintech) to analyze international markets and identify export opportunities.

The initiative aims to develop advanced digital tools that will help export startups improve market access, enhance decision-making, and identify new international business opportunities more efficiently.

Expanding the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program

The discussions also covered expanding the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program by increasing the participation of export startups in developing digital trade solutions and smart services linked to international commerce.

The initiative will build on previous successes in organizing sector-specific trade missions, helping Egyptian companies enter new markets, strengthen industrial integration, and increase regional trade flows.

Building the Next Generation of Exporters

Minister Farid described the development of a new generation of exporters as a strategic priority.

He stressed the importance of equipping export startups with modern international trade capabilities, including:

• Market intelligence and analytics

• Trade finance and export insurance

• Customs tariff knowledge

• Export and import risk management

• Contract negotiation capabilities

These tools, he said, will enhance startups' competitiveness and improve their ability to expand internationally.

Regulatory Sandbox for Export Innovation

The minister also revealed that the ministry is in the final stages of launching a regulatory sandbox designed to foster innovation among export-focused startups.

The platform will provide integrated data from relevant government entities and connect it with advanced analytics models to identify promising export opportunities in coordination with Egypt's Commercial Representation Authority.

According to Farid, the sandbox will serve as a technology innovation platform for foreign trade, noting that while fintech has advanced rapidly, digital solutions supporting exports remain relatively underdeveloped—creating significant opportunities for startups to innovate.

Stronger Private Sector Participation

Farid also emphasized the importance of increasing private-sector participation in financing and supporting export startups, while expanding training programs for new exporters and entrepreneurs.

He added that strengthening market intelligence tools and identifying priority sectors will be essential as global trade patterns continue to evolve.

ITFC Reaffirms Support for Egypt's Export Strategy

For his part, Adeeb Yousif Al Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Egypt's export development strategy.

He noted that initiatives such as the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program provide an effective platform for connecting export startups with target markets.

Al Aama added that expanding trade missions and developing flexible financing solutions for SMEs and export startups would help open new markets and increase trade volumes, while encouraging innovation and supporting regional and international expansion.

He also expressed the ITFC's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt in the coming period to leverage technology and innovation in modernizing the country's foreign trade ecosystem and expanding global opportunities for Egyptian products.