The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones was undergoing major changes as it has been transformed to assume a more effective investment promotion role, with a mandate to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI).
Thanks to the amendments of investment law no.8 of 1997, introduced by law no. 14/04, GAFI is now the sole body to which investors will have to turn in order to have their proposed projects approved. GAFI represents the most tangible step undertaken by the Egyptian Government to streamline investment procedures.
Services provided by GAFI range from company registration to site location to partner identification to contracts and licenses acquisition. GAFI’s services are provided at no cost to the investor.
In this regard, a “One Stop Shop” has been established in GAFI’s headquarter to carry out the aforementioned services. The “One Stop Shop” encompasses delegates from different governmental agencies, under one roof, specialized and well trained in dealing with the investors making sure that someone is looking after their interest. Investors will no longer need to seek approvals from different government departments and agencies to establish a project.
In light of the new law no. 14/04, GAFI will also be entrusted with issuing licenses on certain tax and custom exemptions granted to investors as well as preparing essential investment maps and statistics.


Moreover, GAFI took the initiative to work closely with the Egyptian commercial representation offices in different countries to facilitate trade operations and provide more information on trade opportunities wherever they do exist.