Mohamed El Sewedy was re-elected to lead the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) until 2029. A fourth term for the veteran business leader will provide continuity, but the big signal here is the composition of the board he will lead.

For the first time, the FEI board will include high-ranking government officials in a move that effectively merges the regulator and the lobby, according to a decree from the Industry Ministry seen by EnterpriseAM. Joining the board this term will be Industrial Development Authority head Nahed Youssef, Export Development Fund head Amani Al Wessal, and Deputy Transport Minister for Railway Affairs Wagdy Radwan. All three were appointed by Deputy PM for Industrial Development Kamel El Wazir.

The Wazir doctrine? By placing the leaders of key regulatory agencies on the board, the government is shifting from a consultative relationship with industry toward one of joint management. It’s going to be an interesting trade-off to watch: Having the regulator in the room means bureaucratic bottlenecks can be addressed in real time, but it could also complicate the FEI’s role as an independent advocate capable of pushing back against state policy.

Tags: