Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), embarked on a promotional tour to attract Dutch investments in the green hydrogen sector.
Heiba actively participated in the World Hydrogen Summit held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, a significant event in Europe’s green energy landscape. The summit focused on strategies to support the global transition toward green energy, highlighting the crucial roles of governments, the private sector, and financial institutions.
During a panel discussion titled “Opportunities for Cooperation in Green Hydrogen Between Egypt and the Netherlands,” Heiba engaged with notable figures such as Walid Gamal El-Din, CEO of the Suez Canal Economic Authority; Ayman Soliman, CEO of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt; Gijs Postma, Director of Energy Markets at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy; Erik van der Heijden, Director of Energy Transition at the Port of Rotterdam; and Bart de Smet, Green Hydrogen Development Officer at the Netherlands International Investment Corporation.
Heiba emphasized Egypt’s commitment to achieving climate goals, particularly through expanding the use of green hydrogen. Additionally, on the summit’s sidelines, the “Africa Hydrogen Forum” facilitated knowledge exchange among African countries regarding infrastructure preparation and investment legislation to attract green hydrogen investments. Heiba highlighted Egypt’s incentives for the green hydrogen sector and explored suitable investment frameworks for related projects.
Concluding the tour, the GAFI CEO actively participated in the Egyptian-Dutch Business Forum, organized by the Egyptian Embassy in the Netherlands. Ambassador Hatem Abdel Qader, Egypt’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, also attended. During the forum, Heiba held bilateral meetings with representatives from investment and financing entities, as well as major Dutch companies in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and food industries. The discussions focused on investment opportunities in Egypt and ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations.
Additionally, Heiba reviewed progress in improving Egypt’s investment climate, including the activation of sector-specific investment incentives and the establishment of a streamlined golden license unit that encompasses all necessary permits for company establishment and operation.
