Egyptian Exchange Welcomes Family Businesses and Startups with New Expansion Plan

Omar Radwan, Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), confirmed that the exchange is adopting an expansion plan for the upcoming period. This plan aims to attract more family businesses and startups for listing and trading. It also focuses on boosting investor protection, increasing transparency, and improving disclosure rates. All these efforts are designed to strengthen the capital market's role in funding the national economy and stimulating growth. Radwan explained, in statements made during the transition of "Tawassol for Factoring" from the SME market to the main market, that the EGX's strategy is built on increasing the number of listed companies, supporting both government and private offering programs, and expanding into modern financial instruments. Furthermore, it aims to accelerate digital transformation within the market, which will help attract more local and foreign investments.

Boosting Confidence and Increasing Liquidity

He pointed out that the Egyptian market has seen daily trading volumes exceed $200 million during certain periods. This shows growing investor confidence in the market and its ability to handle new and diverse offerings, as well as efficiently manage various challenges and sudden crises. He added that global financial markets have faced successive waves of economic and geopolitical shocks in recent years. However, the Egyptian Exchange has shown great resilience, maintained market integrity, and boosted investor confidence, solidifying its position as one of the most active and dynamic emerging exchanges in the region.

A Deeper and More Diverse Market

The EGX Chairman emphasized that the current development strategy aims to build a capital market that is deeper, more diverse, and more advanced, both technologically and through improving market and regulatory infrastructure. This will enhance the market's ability to support economic growth and attract long-term capital. He clarified that the EGX continues to work on expanding the range of investment products and tools available to local and foreign investors, aligning with their changing needs. This includes developing financial derivatives markets, providing advanced risk management tools, and expanding traded investment products.

Expanding Funding and Sustainability Tools

Radwan noted that development efforts also include strengthening debt markets by expanding into bonds, sukuk (Islamic bonds), green bonds, and sustainability-linked instruments, along with other diverse financing tools. This will provide more efficient and flexible financing and investment alternatives for companies and investors. He indicated that these steps aim to build an integrated investment system that offers a more efficient environment for investors, helping to improve price discovery mechanisms and enhance the efficiency of capital allocation within the market.

New Listings and Upcoming IPOs

Radwan stated that the EGX is continuously working to deepen the market through new listings, strategic opportunity offerings, and representing new economic sectors within the market. This supports the execution of a series of public offerings in the coming period, increases free float rates and institutional participation, and provides attractive investment opportunities for local and international investors.

Developing Market Infrastructure

Regarding operational infrastructure, the EGX Chairman affirmed that building a modern capital market requires an advanced operational system. He mentioned that the Egyptian Exchange has invested heavily in recent years in developing trading, clearing, settlement, supervision, and disclosure systems, in line with best international practices and standards.