🎁 Good afternoon, friends, and happy Christmas Eve. The news cycle seems to be picking up the pace as we approach weekend territory, and we’ve got a few important stories for you this afternoon. We’re also looking at some concerning AI developments and taking a deep dive with the founder of Egyptian parenting platform Tribe.

PSA- While tomorrow is a national holiday in Egypt in observance of Coptic Christmas, you can still expect EnterprisePM to land in your inbox at our usual time.

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

📍 The Egyptian government is moving to reduce the stakes held by banks in public sector companies and add 13 new entities to the state privatization program, alongside new IPOs, two government sources told EnterpriseAM exclusively. These moves are part of the State Ownership Policy, on which a newly formed prime ministerial committee is set to begin work this month.

Why this matters: This comes at a highly sensitive time when the government is aiming to successfully conclude its IMF loan program. This requires structural reforms to ensure sustainable economic indicators and prevent the need for a future structural adjustment program. The core of these reforms is expanding private sector participation and securing robust foreign reserves of USD 55-56 bn.

ALSO- The Finance Ministry is considering a one-year extension of the real estate tax suspension for approximately 20 industrial sectors, a high-ranking government source told EnterpriseAM. Under the new proposal, the ministry would bear the tax burden for local manufacturers for a period of one to two years. The previous two-year tax relief period is set to expire this January.

** Read the full story and more in tomorrow’s issue of EnterpriseAM.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

🌐 The situation in Venezuela is still dominating front pages after former President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. “I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” Maduro said in court. Since his capture, shares of top US refiners have surged, with US President Donald Trump saying there’s a “tremendous amount of wealth” up for grabs for American oil firms in Venezuela.

MEANWHILE- The country’s main opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Corina Machado praised Trump’s capture of Maduro, calling for an election and announcing plans to “return home.” Last weekend, Trump had dismissed the idea of Machado as a leader for Venezuela, citing lack of support and respect within the country.

Read more on: CNN, BBC, and Reuters.

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

  • Egypt’s bid to position itself as the premier energy hub in the eastern Mediterranean got another boost yesterday on the Levant side of the equation as the Oil Ministry signed two MoUs to help fuel Syria’s reconstruction with the supply of natural gas and petroleum products;
  • EGX-listed fintech player Valu plans to kick off operations in Jordan this quarter after lining up final approval from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ). It will launch operations in Jordan under a specialized finance license that allows it to deliver a range of financing solutions;
  • Egypt enters 2026 on a solid macroeconomic footing, driven by expected growth in FX inflows, cooling inflation, and “tangible progress” on its ongoing reform program, Standard Chartered said in a note to clients.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re in for a warmer day in the capital tomorrow, with temperatures reaching a high of 25°C before cooling down to 13°C, according to our favorite weather app.

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