As part of the strong support provided by Egypt’s political leadership and government to the small and medium enterprise sector, which is considered a key pillar of economic development and job creation in line with Egypt Vision 2030, Basel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), announced that Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly will sponsor the first Egyptian-Saudi International Franchise Exhibition in April 2026.
The event is supported by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) and aims to strengthen investment partnerships between the two countries, connect investors with entrepreneurs and brand owners, and promote franchise culture.
Rahmy emphasized that franchise support services are among MSMEDA’s top priorities, as franchising represents a future-oriented model for supporting businesses and providing growth opportunities for various types of enterprises, particularly innovative and entrepreneurial projects seeking international expansion.
Program to Qualify Egyptian Brands
Rahmy made these remarks during a conference announcing a cooperation agreement with Franchise International Agency for Business Development to organize an Egyptian-Saudi Franchise Exhibition next April.
During the event, Rahmy and Ms. Abeer Abdullah Youssef Guleih, Chairwoman of Franchise International Agency, signed a memorandum of understanding to support and develop Egyptian brands and qualify them according to international franchise standards.
The cooperation includes launching a business accelerator program for emerging brands seeking expansion through franchising, while registering qualified businesses with the Franchise Center of Monsha’at Saudi Arabia.
The program aims to select and qualify at least 30 Egyptian brands during its first phase.
Launch of the Egyptian-Saudi International Franchise Exhibition
For her part, Abeer Guleih welcomed franchise experts, brand owners, and guests from Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of their participation in supporting the sector’s development.
She announced the launch of the Egyptian-Saudi International Franchise Exhibition, scheduled to take place on April 8, 2026, at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo.
The exhibition will serve as a leading platform for exchanging expertise and building long-term strategic partnerships between investors and brand owners.
She concluded by emphasizing that the exhibition represents an important step toward establishing an integrated Arab franchise ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth.
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