CAIRO - 19 June 2025: Egypt ranked 9th globally among the top recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, according to the World Investment Report 2025 released Thursday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The report was launched in Cairo in collaboration with the Egyptian government.
Egypt moved up from 32nd place in 2023, recording a notable increase in FDI inflows. It was also the largest recipient of FDI in Africa, contributing significantly to the continent’s 75% year-on-year increase, which brought total FDI inflows to Africa to $97 billion.
The report highlights project-finance commitments in Egypt doubling in 2024, driven by large-scale investments in sectors such as energy and transport infrastructure. Egypt also stood out as one of the few African countries to record growth in greenfield investment activity, despite an overall decline across the region.
Globally, FDI rose by 4% in 2024 to reach $1.5 trillion, though UNCTAD notes that the figure was inflated by volatile conduit-economy flows. When excluding these flows, global FDI declined by 11%, marking the second consecutive year of contraction.
Investment in SDG-related sectors in developing countries — including infrastructure, renewable energy, agrifood systems, and water and sanitation — fell by 25–33%, with only the health sector showing a modest increase. The report attributes the decline to ongoing global uncertainty and tighter financial conditions.
UNCTAD recorded 174 policy measures related to investment across countries in 2024, the second-highest total on record, with 78% classified as favourable to investors. Many of these were influenced by industrial and geopolitical considerations.
Within the region, North Africa was identified as a key growth area for FDI, led by Egypt’s performance. While cross-border mergers and acquisitions across Africa turned negative, Egypt’s investment inflows were supported by announced megaprojects, including the Ras El-Hekma urban development project.
The Cairo launch event included a presentation of the report’s key findings and a panel discussion involving representatives from international organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions.
UNCTAD officials emphasized the importance of aligning investment strategies with sustainable development goals and called for greater international cooperation to address investment gaps in developing economies.
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