A new independent government authority to manage logistics zones?

EXCLUSIVE- A proposed Logistics Zones Authority would manage, launch and award projects for logistics zones in the country, independent from the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports, a source from the transport sector told EnterpriseAM. The potential move — which is not final and is still being discussed inside the Transport Ministry — comes as the government has some 30 logistics zones to offer up to local and foreign investors, our source said.

The creation of the new authority would help streamline investments into logistics zones, as the authority would allocate land directly to investors and have the ability to draft flexible contracts suited to the nature of each zone, whether agricultural, industrial, or commercial, the source told us.

The Continental Hotel is getting Taj branding

Indian luxury hotel brand Taj Hotels will refurbish and manage the historic Continental Hotel in downtown Cairo, according to a cabinet statement. The project — which will see the Tata Group company cooperate with state-owned Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH), was already kicked off in 2Q 2025.

Background: We first heard in 2023 that the government is planning a tender for a private partner to refurbish the Continental Hotel — a project that has been stalled ever since. The project comes as part of the government’s push to repurpose historic buildings in Downtown Cairo into commercial spaces and hotels.

Remittances were up again in October

Egyptians working abroad sent home USD 33.9 bn in the first ten months of 2025 — up 42.8% on the same period last year, according to fresh CBE data. October saw USD 3.7 bn in inflows, a 26.2% y-o-y jump. Inflows have also steadily ticked up month-on-month, coming in at USD 3.5 bn in August and USD 3.6 bn in September.

IEE to acquire two smart infrastructure companies in deals worth EGP 740 mn

Industrial Engineering Enterprises (IEE)’s board greenlit the acquisition of local smart infrastructure provider Enterprise Sigma Technology and tech-enabled parking manager Smart Garages, in two separate transactions. The acquisition of Enterprise Sigma Technology is valued at EGP 300 mn while the Smart Garages acquisition is valued at EGP 440 mn, according to a disclosure (pdf) to the EGX.

The details: The transactions will be carried out through capital increases and are awaiting both shareholder and regulatory approvals, a source with knowledge of the transaction told EnterpriseAM. IEE will use Enterprise Sigma Technology to expand into the manufacturing of equipment serving public utilities, the source added.

Tamweely, MLF Finance close new securitized bond issuances

#1- Mortgage lender MLF Finance closed a EGP 1.14 bn securitized bond issuance, the first transaction under a three-year multi-issuance program worth up to EGP 12 bn, according to a statement (pdf). The issuance is backed by a receivables portfolio originated by MLF Finance and is structured into four tranches, rated AA+, AA, A+, and A- by Meris.

ADVISORS- EFG Hermes Investment Banking acted as financial advisor and lead arranger. NBE, CIB, Banque du Caire, and EFG Hermes Promoting & Underwriting served as underwriters, with NBE as custodian and Banque du Caire as bookrunner. KPMG served as auditor, while Dreny & Partners provided counsel.

#2- Tamweely Financial Services closed a EGP 1.2 bn securitized bond issuance, the second tranche under the non-bank financial services firm’s EGP 5 bn securitization program, according to a statement (pdf). The issuance is backed by a portfolio of future receivables from microfinance contracts and is structured into four tranches with tenors ranging from 6 to 24 months, rated P1 and A- by Meris.

ADVISORS- Al Ahly Pharos acted as lead arranger and underwriter. Al Ahly Pharos, Banque du Caire, Suez Canal Bank, and NBE served as underwriting guarantors. Banque du Caire acted as subscription receiver, Suez Canal Bank as custodian, Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy as counsel, and Baker Tilly as auditor.

General Misr plans to open EGP 1 bn car assembly plant

General Misr plans to set up a EGP 1 bn automotive assembly plant for Chinese SWM vehicles sometime between 2026 and 2027, Asharq Business quotes General Manager Nashaat Abu Hetta as saying. The company is using an existing plant for local assembly until the new plant comes online. General Misr also plans to launch an electric vehicle line from the Chinese brand in the local market by 2027.

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