Cooperation between the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones and the Education Development Fund to Promote Investment in the Education Sector
Mr. Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, met with Dr. Rasha Saad Sharaf, Secretary-General of the Education Development Fund affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Office, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two entities in attracting investments for the Fund’s projects. This is in line with the directives of the political leadership and the Sustainable Development Strategy "Egypt Vision 2030," which focuses on investing in human capital and enhancing job opportunities for young Egyptians both locally and internationally.
Mr. Hossam Heiba confirmed that the Authority is actively participating in efforts to stimulate investment in the education and training sector. The Authority has dedicated a section within Egypt’s investment map to promote investment opportunities in the education sector in collaboration with other state entities. Additionally, the Authority offers special incentives for investments in this sector, including the possibility of granting educational projects a "Golden License." This license allows investors to receive approval for all the construction and operational requirements of a project within just 20 working days, which helps reduce the time between the start of construction and the actual operation of the project, while ensuring that the investor complies with Egyptian standards for construction, maintenance, and operational safety.
Dr. Rasha Sharaf stated that the Education Development Fund, under the leadership of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, is implementing several national projects. These include international accreditation academies for practicing professions abroad, aimed at qualifying one million Egyptian professionals and technicians over five years to work in the labor markets of Europe, Canada, the United States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The Fund is also working on the International Labor Market Observatory, which aims to train and qualify young Egyptians, enhance their talents, and develop their skills to meet the employment needs of global markets.
The Secretary-General of the Education Development Fund further added that the Fund is in the process of establishing a Food University, which will offer three programs related to water, agricultural technology, and animal production. These programs are designed to prepare graduates with scientific and research qualifications, along with practical experience, to meet the needs of both local and international labor markets. The Food University’s operational model will be based on partnerships with investors in agriculture, animal production, and food industries.
The university plans to collaborate with the private sector in the development of lakes, treatment of agricultural wastewater, reducing irrigation water waste, optimizing water usage, increasing animal production, and food processing. This partnership aims to achieve food growth, self-sufficiency in strategic commodities, and the export of surpluses abroad.