Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) Omar Reda said the exchange is targeting the attraction of more large family-owned businesses to list on the market in the coming period, given that these firms represent a significant part of Egypt’s economic structure.
He noted that listing on the stock exchange is one of the key tools to ensure the sustainability of such companies and preserve their continuity across generations, especially in light of the challenges that often arise over management transitions to the third generation.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the second edition of the Money Made Simple Conference in Sharm El Sheikh on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Reda said the Egyptian Exchange is working to open communication and negotiation channels with family-owned companies to introduce them to the advantages of listing, including governance, business continuity, and access to financing needed for growth and expansion, in addition to separating management from ownership in a way that helps preserve major economic entities and ensure their sustainability.
The chairman added that the market is also seeking to negotiate with startups that have achieved strong success and reached advanced growth stages. He explained that many founding investors or venture capital funds in such companies look at certain stages for opportunities for partial or full exits, or for attracting new investors to support expansion plans.
However, he ruled out the idea of establishing a separate stock exchange for startups. Reda pointed out that the Egyptian Exchange will, in the coming years, become the natural exit gateway for these companies, whether through public or private offerings, capital increases, or attracting strategic partners.
Such mechanisms, he said, provide flexible solutions that help companies continue growing while enabling investors to generate returns on their investments. He stressed that the Egyptian state is paying increasing attention to entrepreneurship and startups, supported by government initiatives and a specialized ministerial committee, which contributes to creating a new generation of companies that will eventually be qualified to benefit from capital market tools.
He clarified that the exchange does not target companies in their very early stages, but rather firms that have already achieved success and require financing, sustainability, and structured growth. Reda underlined that raising awareness of the advantages of listing and financing through the capital market is a key pillar of the exchange’s strategy, especially amid technological and digital developments that have enhanced companies’ awareness of the importance of governance and disclosure, thereby ensuring business sustainability and strengthening long-term competitiveness.