With several global organisations looking to expand and export some of their support functions to Egypt, the country’s outsourcing market has witnessed substantial growth across a multitude of sectors including call centres, HR, finance, and accounting. Raya and Teleperformance are among the largest BPO operators in Egypt while key players in the call centre services, including Webhelp, Sutherland, and Concentrix, have recognised its potential and established a presence in the country. The outsourcing industry is expected to experience significant expansion in the coming years in both job creation (increasing by over 300% between 2022 and 2026 in the BPO sector alone) and contributions to the country's GDP, as ITIDA projects the BPO industry will contribute between 1.2 and 1.4% of the country’s total GDP by 2026.

One of Egypt's key advantages is its cost efficiency. The country offers up to 80% cost savings for entry-level salaries compared to its competitors Poland, Morocco, and Turkey.

Currency devaluations have further enhanced its appeal, as the Egyptian pound has lost over 50% of its value since January 2022. This depreciation has made it more affordable for foreign companies to outsource operations to Egypt, enabling them to benefit from lower labour costs while maintaining control over non-revenue generating functions.

Egypt's desirable geographic location, centrally positioned on the Mediterranean, is another factor contributing to its appeal. The country also shares a similar time zone with Europe, Asia, and the US, enabling seamless coordination and productivity for businesses serving global clients.

With approximately 75 million people under the age of 40, Egypt boasts a young and creative population. 80% of the country’s working population speaks English and other European languages, compared to 20-65% in other leading offshore destinations. In addition, over 600,000 competent young graduates from top-rated universities enter the workforce each year, bringing valuable business and digital skills to power Egypt’s growth as a strong outsourcing hub.

That said, a strong area the country could perhaps strengthen in the coming years is increasing the available supply of its tech parks dedicated to call centres and the various outsourcing activities exported in the country, especially given that it has ranked among the top five most preferred destinations to outsource contact centres, according to Ryan Strategic Advisory’s 2019 Front Office Omnibus Survey. Currently, the Maadi Tech Park is the first and only specialised technology and investment zone in Egypt that is specifically allocated to contact centres, facilitating smooth operations, and offering various incentives to its investors (such as custom exemptions, etc.). Therefore, there is limited availability of such centres compared to their relatively higher demand.

To summarise, there is no doubt that Egypt's outsourcing industry today stands at the threshold of remarkable growth and recognition on the global stage. Benefiting from favorable government policies, strategic positioning, a highly skilled workforce, and cost-effective solutions, the country is poised to enjoy continued success in the dynamic and competitive world of outsourcing.