Investment Policy Monitor
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
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The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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- Egypt - Lifts the Egyptian ownership requirement for trading companies
Egypt
Lifts the Egyptian ownership requirement for trading companies
29 Oct 2023On 29 October 2023, Egypt introduced significant amendments to its Importers Registry Law through Law No. 173 of 2023, adjusting the ownership and operational criteria for entities involved in import activities for direct trading on the domestic market in Egypt. These changes include the removal of the previous 51 per cent minimum Egyptian ownership requirement for companies in the import sector, allowing wholly foreign-owned entities to engage in import operations under specific conditions.
The updated law sets forth several criteria for all companies to qualify for an importation license. These include maintaining a minimum share capital of EGP 2,000,000 (approximately $64,000), achieving a minimum annual business turnover of EGP 5,000,000 (around $160,000) in the year preceding the license application, and the payment of an EGP 200,000 (approximately $6,400) insurance amount, which is refundable upon the license's expiry or termination.
The term of license for these entities is up to 10 years, renewable for another 10 years by virtue of a cabinet decision. Existing companies partially owned by foreign shareholders (up to 49 percent) are given a license with a validity of five years, which can be renewed for unlimited terms.
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Type:
- Entry and establishment (Ownership and control)
- Treatment and operation (Operational conditions)
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Industry:
- Services (Wholesale and retail trade)
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Sources:
- Baker McKenzie, lifts the Egyptian ownership requirement for importation for commercial trading, https://insightplus.bakermckenzie.com/bm/international-commercial-trade/egypt-lifts-the-egyptian-ownership-requirement-for-importation-for-commercial-trading, 06 Nov 2023
- RIAD-RIAD.com, Egypt Removes Restrictions on Foreign Companies to Obtain Importation License, https://riad-riad.com/egypt-removes-restrictions-on-obtaining-importation-license/, 04 Nov 2023
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Share
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![Facebook](/Content/images/fb-soc.png)
![E-mail](/Content/images/mail-soc.png)
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