Egypt

CIPE’s programs in Egypt support the institutions of free enterprise and promote market-oriented reform through its partnerships with local private sector leaders, business associations, and think tanks. CIPE’s work in Egypt focuses on improving the lives of citizens through three thematic approaches:

1. Programs supporting socio-economic development through market institutions with a focus on anti-corruption, improving inefficient bureaucracy, improving local government performance through a decentralized system, property rights, de-monopolization, access to information, and transitioning to a cashless economy to reduce informality and enhance financial inclusion.
2. Programs to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem through introducing internal and external private sector reform measures. These measures include: establishing corporate governance best practices, primarily for family-owned businesses; guiding the private sector to adopt and develop corporate citizenship programs; encouraging the private sector to adopt codes of business ethics and transparency measures; working with decision makers to improve the business environment for small and medium enterprises (SMEs); assisting SMEs with tools on access to finance; and integrating the informal sector.
3. Programs supporting an inclusive approach to the decision-making process through improving the institutional capacity of independent business associations, enhancing the governance practices of business associations and non-governmental organizations, establishing a healthy dialogue between private sector stakeholders and decision makers, and supporting the development of analytical skills to recommend economic policies among young business leaders.

CIPE currently works with the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) and the Federation of Egyptian Banks (FEB) to advocate Egypt’s transition towards a cashless economy and improved banking services. The popularity of a cashless economy has grown significantly over the past three years as a result of CIPE’s work with FEI and FEB.

CIPE also supports the Federation of Economic Development Associations (FEDA) to advocate SME legal and regulatory reform. FEDA, with the assistance of CIPE, recently developed a road map to formality suggesting revisions to the current SME law and streamlining inconsistent practices that cause many businesses to remain within the informal economy.