In 1952 Egypt's private sector accounted for 76 percent of economic investment. Following the nationalization plans carried out by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the effort to build a post-independence socialist state, this percentage drastically shifted within a few decades to government investment accounting for over 80 percent of economic investment.[1] This figure included all banking, insurance, foreign trade, medium and heavy industry air transport, and public utilities, as well as many retail stores, newspapers, maritime transport, construction companies, and large infrastructure assets.
By the late 1970s, president Sadat shifted Egypt to the Infitah, or an 'open door' liberal policy. However, despite a number of rounds of privatisation stipulated by the IMF and World Bank Economic Reform and Structural Adjustment Program (ERSAP) in the 1990s, that saw over 400 companies privatized, by 2015 there were 52 economic authorities, 102 service authorities, and 146 state-owned enterprises that were affiliated with nine holding companies.[1] 30 Service authorities depend on recapitalization or operate on a subsidized business model. SOEs either are under specific ministries or are companies wholly or majority controlled by the state and operating under the authority of line ministries. These are mainly companies considered “strategic" in sectors such as electricity, aviation, banks, housing, petroleum, agriculture, textile, chemical industry, mining industry, transport, construction, tourism, pharmaceutical, and food processing holdings.[1] In December 2024, Egyptian authorities agreed to accelerate the divestment of state-owned companies to secure a $1.2 billion package from the IMF to improve macroeconomic stability.
Transportation
- Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN)[3]
- National Air Navigation Services Company (NANSC)
- Cairo Airport Company (CAC)
- Egyptian Airports Company (EAC)
- Aviation Information Technology (AVIT)
- Egyptair Holding Company[4]
- Egyptair
- Egyptair Duty Free
- Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering
- Egyptair Ground Services
- Egyptair In-flight Services
Media & communication
- Egypt Post
- National Media Authority (former ERTU)[6]
- Egyptian Media Production City Co SAE (Listed, government controlled: c. 80%)
- Sono Cairo
- Egyptian Satellites Co SAE - Nilesat (Listed, government controlled: c. 83%)
- Nile Radio Network
- Nile Television Network
- Telecom Egypt (Listed, government controlled: 70%)[7]
Petroleum, chemicals & mining
- Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC)
- South Valley Egyptian petroleum Holding Company[8]
- Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS)[9]
- Egyptian Natural Gas Company (GASCO)
- Egypt Gas (Listed, 83% controlled by EGAS)[10][11]
Contracting & real Estate
Affiliated to the Ministry of Housing
- New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA)[14]
- City Edge Developments (84%)
- Hyde Park Developments (78%)
- Saudi Egyptian Developers (50%)
- Administrative Capital for Urban Development - ACUD (49% NUCA, 25.5% NSPO, 25.5% AFLPA)[15]
- Arab Contractors
Affiliated to the Ministry of the Public Business Sector
Financial & insurance
- National Bank of Egypt
- Banque Misr
- Banque du Caire
- Bank of Alexandria (Listed, mostly private)
- Housing and Development Bank (Listed, controlled by Ministry of Housing)[21]
- Egyptian Exchange
- Egyptian Commodities Exchange
- Misr Insurance Holding Company (The Sovereign Fund of Egypt)[22]
Pharmaceuticals
Affiliated to the Ministry of the Public Business Sector
- Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals (Holdipharma)[23]
- Arab Drug Co.
- Chemical Industries Development Co. (CID)
- El Nasr pharmaceutical chemicals Co.
- Misr Co. for Pharmaceutical Products
- The Nile Co . for Pharmaceuticals & Chemical Industries
- Medical Appliances & Packages Co
- Alexandria Co. for Pharmaceutical
- Holdipharma For Marketing & Export Co.
- Memphis Co. for Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Industries
- Kahira for Pharmaceuticals & Chemical Industries Co.
Affiliated to the Ministry of Health
Manufacturing & retail
Ministry of Public Business Sector
- Holding Company for Cotton, Spinning, Weaving and Garments[25]
- Misr Spinning and Weaving Company
- Damietta Spinning and Weaving Company
- Daqahliya Spinning and Weaving Company
- Misr Helwan Spinning and Weaving Company
- Misr for Artificial Silk
- Upper Egypt Spinning and Weaving Company
- Metallurgical Industries Holding
- El Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company
Utilities
- Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC)
- Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW)[41] (Owns 25 local and regional subsidiaries)
Tourism
- Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels (HOTAC)[42]
- Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels (EGOTH)
- ElMamoura Company for Construction & Tourist Development
- Misr Travel Company
- Misr Hotels Company (50%)
See also
- Economy of Egypt
- State ownership
- State-owned enterprise
References
- Gael J. R. F. Raballand. Middle East and North Africa - Governance reforms of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) : lessons from four case studies (Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, and Tunisia) World Bank, retrieved 2024-01-19^
- IMF, Egypt reach deal to unlock $1.2bn to shore up strained public finances Al Jazeera, retrieved 2025-01-02^