CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), Hossam Heiba, met with free zone investors in Egypt, to discuss how to support investors in adapting to new European environmental standards, to ensure the sustainability of Egyptian export growth.

He added that the Egyptian government realizes importance of these zones, which contribute about 22% of the proceeds of Egyptian exports abroad, so it will expand the establishment of public free zones during the coming years.

The European Union (EU) will begin to fully implement the mechanism for adjusting carbon limits on imports from EU countries (CBAM), starting in January 2026.

 This mechanism obligates the supplier to export products that carry zero carbon emissions, or bear additional financial burdens that are determined in accordance with the emissions trading system in the EU.

The CEO of GAFI said that Egyptian products targeting the European market need to rely on clean energy and environmentally goods in order to continue to maintain their global competitiveness.

Heiba announced that the Authority will develop a plan to double these areas’ dependence on renewable energy, in coordination with the EU and the Free Zones Advisory Council, which is composed of representatives of investors in these areas.