- First international exhibition to provide franchise, investment and job opportunities for young people
- Companies from Arab and foreign countries represent 30% of exhibitors
- Group visits from female investors from the region
- Participation from small and micro businesses reaches 50%
- Partnership and investment opportunities in the EGP 3,000,000 bracket.
The organizing coalition of the 2018 Biznex conference and exhibition announced, at a press conference today, the participation of more than 200 Egyptian, Arab and foreign companies, for the first time in Egypt. Biznex is scheduled for November 8-10 at the Egyptian International Exhibition Center.
Marwan Abdel Razek, member of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce and the head of Frannchisingate’s forum in Egypt, said 30% of the participants were foreign companies looking to establish presence in Egypt or take Egyptian brands regionally.
He added that exhibitors, which range from small to large companies, will be matched with partners through a mobile application, followed by one-on-one meetings at the exhibition. Individuals and small businesses looking to diversify their investments will attend, to explore opportunities in sectors covering Food & Beverage, ICT, Retail, Manufacturing, Garment Manufacturing, Distribution, and Media and Communications.
“It’s an opportunity for exhibiting brands to gain excellent exposure, along with an unprecedented networking opportunity through matchmaking solutions, and access to financing options from a number of banking and financial services institutions,” said Hassan Hussein, CEO of Oula for Investment.
Mr. Hussein added “The exhibition builds on our success in regional markets and aims to bring all key parts of the investment ecosystem in one place. These include startups founders; private equity investors; foreign companies; local brands; financial service companies and government agencies. It’s the first of its kind one-stop-shop for businesspeople looking to make an informed investment decision, but it is also the first networking event of this scale ever to be organized in Egypt,”
“We are proud to partner with these great institutions for this exciting event that aims to unleash investment opportunities for investors of all sizes and raises the profiles of Egyptian players both locally and abroad.” said Abdelmohsen Salama, Chairman of Al Ahram Organization.
Logistics will be made easy through different services offered by the exhibition to Egyptians in different governorates.
Mr. Salama added that many brands at the expo are seeking to expand in regional markets, whereas some will be looking for partners, or financing institutions, to help them grow their business locally. For the first time, banking, government and consultancy services will be showcased in one place to inform entrepreneurs on how to establish, operate and fund a business.
“If you want to know about the investment laws, opportunities and incentives, regardless of your investment ticket size, this exhibition will answer your questions. We hope to see youth there, because Egypt holds a lot of innovative young talent looking to start a business. We are here to make it easy to bring their ideas to life and unleash entrepreneurship in all regions of Egypt” said Dr. Mohsen Adel, Chairman of the GAFI
The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) will showcase over 30 services extended to businesses and entrepreneurs, including its investment map, the single-shareholder company solution and the online incorporation services.
East Port Said Investment Zone will present its services and greenfield investment opportunities, and other government entities will showcase their recent investment in digitizing their services to migrate to the Smart City model.
“We joined this event, because it is a great platform for us to reach a wide range of Egyptians from Cairo and other regions of Egypt in one place to present to them all the new services we have for small and micro businesses. Financial inclusion is a reality that is bearing fruit with banking institutions and is helping grow a strong foundation for our economy,” said Mr. Mamdouh Afia, Head of SME Finance Group at the National Bank of Egypt.
Mazen Ghazi Derar, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Makkah commented by saying that “Egypt is a promising market with a diversified economy and an excellent strategic location, and we seek to consolidate economic relations between our two countries, especially after the legislative and policy reforms adopted by the various ministries to improve the business environment and boost industrial production,”. He added “Trade between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in recent years has grown considerably, reaching about 2.6 billion dollars last year, with 1.5 billion dollars in Egyptian exports to the Kingdom”
Almost 14 banks will present their services, focusing on their financing tools for micro-businesses, and real estate developers will also showcase their mortgage financing offerings.
A special event will be held for entrepreneurs, who are invited to join the expo’s competition and present their startup ideas to a panel of judges, made up of angel and startup investors. Entrepreneurs will have a chance to network with potential investors, raise their profile and gather information on procedures and costs related to starting and operating a business.
Freelancers in areas such as design and communication are also invited to visit the expo, which dedicates a matchmaking area for those looking to access more business.
Workshops and panel discussions that discuss the opportunities and challenges facing small businesses will also run in parallel to the exhibition. Topics covered include financial solutions for SMEs, legal incorporation options, entrepreneurial success stories, and recent trends in marketing and advertising, such as social media and new branding practices.