CAIRO. In order to attract further direct and foreign investment the Egyptian government agreed with the EC to cooperate with a twinning partner to promote investment, promote policy advocacy, develop dispute settlement competences and enhance the capacities and capabilities of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

The twinning project 'Institutional Strengthening of the GAFI' was then launched in 2007 and contracted in 2008 to the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and to Baden-Württemberg International and the Austrian Agency for European Integration as implementing promotion agencies.

The twinning project will support GAFI in its process of change to a pro-active customer-focused investment promotion organization, through the application of best practices of European investment promotion agencies. Support has been given on the component Strategic Planning and Investment Promotion.