Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly opened on September 19 the Investor Service Center (ISC) in Port Said, endeavoring to eliminate the bottlenecks investors face when starting up new businesses, Invest-Gate reports.

Serving 7,360 investors governorate-wide, Port Said’s ISC is authorized to issue the necessary approvals, permits, and licenses. It also provides all financial, banking, and funding services, while offering potential opportunities through Egypt’s investment map, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said in a statement on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony.

Arising in line with the state’s radical investment climate reforms, the step came during Madbouly’s visit to the Mediterranean Suez Canal, where he also inspected renovation works at Port Said Free Zone. The latter currently comprises 83 projects, with a capital of USD 1 bn (roughly EGP 16.3 bn) and investments hitting USD 2.4 bn (almost EGP 39.2 bn).

Further, the volume of activity registered by Port Said Free Zone in FY 2018/19 includes exports amounted to USD 2.2 bn (nearly EGP 35.9 bn), Madbouly confirmed.

On the sidelines, the prime minister, along with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat, launched a digital transformation portal for the governorate. The move is part of Egypt’s plans to accelerate the digital transformation of the state, where Port Said is set to become the first governorate to scrap physical paper documentation in favor of digital systems.

Madbouly was briefed on efforts exerted to upgrade the city’s infrastructure to allow for such transformation, including the modernization of 648 government buildings and institutions. The updated establishments cover health, supply, registration, traffic, public prosecution, police, and courts, according to Talaat.