Challenges and Opportunities for E-commerce Adoption by SMEs in Egypt: A Comparative Study

Egypt's SME sector is a significant contributor to its economy, yet e-commerce adoption remains underutilized compared to other regions. A comparative study using qualitative interviews with 50 SME owners across Egypt’s major cities was conducted. SMEs face significant technological barriers, including limited internet access (47%) and inadequate digital literacy among staff (32%). Egyptian SMEs perceive e-commerce as a promising growth avenue but are hindered by infrastructural and human resource constraints. Government should invest in infrastructure development and provide training programmes for enhancing digital skills of SME owners.