DEBT WATCH-

#1- Valu gets green light for EGP 10 bn securitization program: The Financial Regulatory Authority approved Valu’s seventh securitized bond program, allowing the company to issue up to EGP 10 bn in bonds backed by portfolios worth EGP 13 bn, according to a filing (pdf) to the bourse. The issuance will be rolled out over two years through up to nine issuances. Just last month, the newly-listed company closed an EGP 859 mn securitization issuance.

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#2- Tasaheel lands EGP 1 bn loan: MNT-Halan’s microfinance arm Tasaheel secured EGP 1 bn from the National Bank of Egypt to on-lend, according to a press release (pdf). The funding will help the firm expand microfinance lending across governorates, supporting entrepreneurship and helping build sustainable income-generating projects.

REGULATIONS-

A slew of new FRA regulations incoming: The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) is preparing to issue a wave of new regulations in the coming period, FRA head Mohamed Farid told Asharq Business (watch, runtime: 4:56). The updates include platform requirements for crowdfunding and real estate investment fund platforms, as well as unified solvency standards across non-bank finance segments based on Basel III. “We found varying solvency criteria in consumer finance, microfinance, and mortgage finance. So we are working to unify them using globally recognized Basel III benchmarks,” Farid said, adding that this would “raise the financial and professional solvency” of licensed companies and improve transparency for investors.

Stricter capital rules coming for insurers: Farid also said that the FRA will soon roll out new financial and governance standards for ins. firms, including higher capital adequacy. The move comes ahead of a planned shift to international capital adequacy standards — eventually the EU’s Solvency II, which is on the FRA’s roadmap for rollout within two-three years.

CAPITAL MARKETS-

CI Capital Asset Management closed the country’s inaugural ESG equity fund, it said in apress release (pdf). The subscription was 4x oversubscribed, signaling strong investor appetite for ESG-linked investments. The fund will invest in the stocks of the 30 best-performing listed companies on the EGX, the statement said. Retail and institutional investors will be able to execute daily subscription and redemption orders starting this month through local banks and CI Capital’s fixed income brokerage arm, the asset manager said without disclosing a specific start date or name-checking the receiving banks.

TOURISM-

The Tourism Ministry and regional travel platform WEGO launched a joint digital campaign to promote Egypt as a destination in Arab markets, aiming to attract over 1 mn travelers and drive 500k bookings by June 2026, according to a ministry statement. The campaign will run targeted ads across YouTube, Google, cinemas, and malls during holidays and peak travel periods.

REMEMBER- Egypt has big tourism plans as it aims to increase the number of tourists from 15.7 mn last year to 30 mn tourists a year by 2030.

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