Egypt’s banking sector is experiencing strong growth and digital transformation, supported by robust liquidity and rising deposits, with domestic liquidity reaching EGP 12.566 trillion as of March 2025, according to the Central Bank of Egypt. Against this positive backdrop, Standard Chartered’s expanding presence in Egypt reflects growing opportunities for local and international investors.
Mohammed Gad, CEO of Standard Chartered Egypt, highlights the bank’s strategic focus on supporting key sectors, especially women entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Futuremakers Women in Tech Egypt accelerator. This program tackles critical barriers facing women-led startups, including access to funding and non-financial support such as mentorship, business model development, and marketing guidance. The accelerator provides equity-free funding, investment readiness training, and access to global networks tailored to Egypt’s business environment.
With a goal to support 400 women entrepreneurs and generate over 1,200 jobs regionally, the accelerator emphasizes economic inclusion and workforce diversification, aiming to fuel Egypt’s long-term innovation and growth. Beyond this initiative, Standard Chartered plans to expand its efforts in financial inclusion and women’s empowerment in Egypt’s technology sector.
The bank’s expansion strategy focuses on delivering comprehensive financial products and services, supporting corporate clients, government projects, and financial institutions aligned with Egypt’s economic priorities. Leveraging its global network across 53 markets, Standard Chartered facilitates trade, investment, and cross-border growth opportunities for Egyptian companies.
Gad underscores recent successes, including supporting Egypt’s US dollar bond issuance and attracting foreign investment into local debt markets, driven by improving macroeconomic conditions such as falling inflation and interest rate cuts. These factors contribute to a favorable environment for continued economic activity and investment, reinforcing Standard Chartered’s confidence in Egypt’s growth potential.
