Good afternoon, wonderful people. It’s the last few hours of the week before we (happily) jump headfirst into the first long weekend of the year.

**EnterprisePM will be off tomorrow in observance of Police Day and the 25 January revolution. EnterpriseAM Egypt will also be off, and will be back at the usual hour on Sunday morning. Look for the Weekend Edition in your inboxes tomorrow.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

New mining tender in March? The Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority is reportedly planning to issue a new mining tender for three minerals in March, Asharq Business reports, citing an unnamed government official. The tender will cover an unspecified number of areas for mining mineral raw materials, as well as minerals associated with phosphate, sulfur, and potash, according to the source.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

As was the case when we last wrote to you this morning, Donald Trump’s victory over Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary is leading the conversation in the international press. After his decisive victory in Iowa, this second one all but solidifies his imminent rematch with Biden. No candidate who has landed a victory in the first two primaries has ever failed to make it as the presidential nominee. The next primary in South Carolina, Haley’s home state, isn’t looking too bright for her either, possibly signifying her time to follow in Ron DeSantis’ footsteps and drop out of the running despite her insistence that the race is “ far from over.” (Bloomberg | Financial Times | Associated Press | Washington Post | Reuters | Wall Street Journal)

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

  • More investments in the SCZone: The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has inked five framework agreements with private industrial players to invest c. USD 235 mn, split between FX commitments totalling USD 195 mn and local currency investments totalling EGP 1.2 bn.
  • There’s nothing micro about microfinance company Tasaheel’s bond issuance: MNT-Halan microfinance subsidiary Tasaheel Finance has issued EGP 3.8 bn worth of securitized social sustainability bonds — the first such bonds in Egypt and Africa.
  • EU welcomes in “golden age of EU-Egypt relations” with pledge to invest EUR 9 bn: Following the meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council, EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi told the press that their Economic and Investment Plan will mobilize EUR 9 bn to invest in “growth and jobs in Egypt in areas that are the most critical, food, water, energy for any sustainable economy.”

🌦️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Expecta mostly cloudy day with a high of18°C and a low of 12°C in the evening along with some potential drizzles, according to our favorite weather app.

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