Spatial Concentration of Greenfield FDI: Disparities across Governorates and Sectors
Abstract
This chapter analyses the spatial distribution of aggregate and sectoral Greenfield FDI flows across 27 Egyptian governorates from 1972 to 2020. Sector-wise, the largest share of Greenfield FDI goes into services, followed by manufacturing, whereas agriculture attracts little FDI. A significant characteristic of FDI in Egypt is its highly uneven spatial distribution. Employing classical inequality indicators reveals a highly unequal distribution of Greenfield FDI across governorates with some differences over time. The concentration first decreased from 1972 until the mid/late1990s, followed by a stagnation phase in the 2000s, before re-increasing in 2011–2020. Our analysis identifies differences in the degree of Greenfield FDI spatial concentration across sectors, supporting the notion of FDI sectoral heterogeneity. Services FDI shows the strongest spatial concentration, whereas manufacturing FDI is the most geographically dispersed. The FDI concentration in only a few governorates might prevent the spread of possible positive FDI spillovers throughout the whole economy, thereby increasing regional disparities. The chapter discusses the trade-off between agglomeration economies and regional equality and offers policy recommendations.