Cairo: The Egypt-Qatar Investment Forum opened on Sunday, December 14, 2025, as the two countries seek to expand industrial cooperation and increase Qatari investment across key sectors of the Egyptian economy.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Egyptian officials said the forum aims to deepen joint manufacturing projects and strengthen supply and value chains in industries, including aluminium, automotive manufacturing, textiles, glass, and polyester, combining Egyptian production capacity with Qatari capital and investment expertise.

Qatari investments in Egypt currently stand at about $3.2 billion through more than 266 companies operating in sectors such as finance, industry, and tourism. Doha has announced plans to invest a further $7.5 billion in Egypt in projects spanning tourism, real estate, food security, and development along the North Coast.

On the sidelines of the forum, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir discussed maritime cooperation with Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sayed, including potential partnerships in managing container and general cargo terminals.

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) is expected to sign its first Qatari investment agreement during the forum, a $200 million project with Qatar’s Al Mana Group. The zone has attracted about $13 billion in foreign investment over the past three years, including $4.2 billion in the last year alone, and $4 billion in the past five and a half months.

SCZone revenues reached EGP 8.25 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, a 36 percent increase from the previous year. Trade between Egypt and Qatar rose by nearly 80 percent, from $80 million in 2023 to $143 million in the first 10 months of 2025, driven largely by recent Qatari investments, including large-scale North Coast developments launched in November.