Gov’t taps prominent figures for new private sector advisory committees

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What We're Tracking Today

Egypt could sign agreements to liquefy Cypriot gas as early as next month

Good morning, folks, and welcome to the last week of January. It’s already been a pretty busy week for local business news, but it can always get busier — so let's jump in and see what the week brings.

PSA-

WEATHER- It’s another overcast day in Cairo today, with a high of 20°C, a low of 11°C, and a chance of light rain in the evening, according to our favorite weather app.

It’s likely to be a whole lot wetter in Alexandria, with a high of 18°C, a low of 11°C, along with moderate and sometimes thundery rain. It’s also set to be a foggy morning along the country’s northern shores, so be careful on the roads.

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WATCH THIS SPACE-

Egypt could sign agreements next month to liquefy Cypriot gas in local facilities: French energy company TotalEnergies and Italian energy giant Eni and the Madbouly government will next month ink agreements to transport Cypriot gas to Egypt to be liquefied and exported, the AP reports, citing unnamed officials. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides will visit Cairo on 17 February to oversee the signing of the agreements, he said in a post on X.

Where is the gas going? Gas coming from Cyprus’ Cronos deposit will be exported to markets including Europe, while the future of gas coming from the Aphrodite field is still being discussed — gas from the field could be used to meet domestic demand or exported.

Remember: Back in September, the Oil Ministry reported that TotalEnergies wanted to supply gas from its fields in Cyprus to Egypt for liquefaction and re-export as LNG or to be fed directly into the grid. This followed news that Egypt and Cyprus were considering establishing an energy corridor that would see Cyprus send natural gas to Egypt to be liquified and exported to global markets.

SIGN OF THE TIMES-

Manufacturing, tourism, and CIT sectors were among the biggest contributors in GDP growth in 1Q 2024-2025, which recorded about 3.5%, up from 2.4% in 4Q FY 2023-2024, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said during a panel discussion about growth in the MENA region at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, according to a ministry statement. Our growth was aided by Egypt’s financial policies, which have helped “enhance the flexibility, stability, growth, and competitiveness of the Egyptian economy in the face of regional and global challenges,” he added.

Investments from Egypt’s private sector made up more than 63% of the total state investments during the first quarter, Kouchouk noted. Fostering an environment that empowers private sector-led growth was among the key requirements of Egypt’s USD 8 bn program with the International Monetary Fund.

Global players have begun to take notice of changes to our policymaking: Goldman Sachs wrote following its investor trip to Egypt at the end of last week that the new Madbouly government has injected “a new sense of urgency” to Egypt’s policymaking, with a renewed focus on addressing the economy’s low export base by encouraging private sector investment.

IN THE HOUSE-

MPs are reconvening today after a two-week break to discuss and vote on three draft tax-related laws and the Criminal Procedures Law.

A simplified tax system for SMEs: Lawmakers will discuss and vote on a draft bill proposing that businesses with an annual turnover of up to EGP 15 mn will pay a simple flat tax — that starts at an annual EGP 1k and goes up to EGP 225k depending on how much they are making — that covers income tax, value-added tax, duty tax, and others.

Speeding up tax return processing: MPs will also discuss a drafted bill to expedite the Egyptian Tax Authority’s settling of tax disputes ahead of a move to a digital system.

A second chance for those with late payments: Taxpayers who failed to submit their tax reports between 2020 and 2023 will be allowed to file them within a specific time frame without facing any penalties. Leniency for erroneous returns filed between 2020 and 2023, which can be corrected and refiled without penalty.

MPs will also continue discussions on the 540-article Criminal Procedures Law, voting today on articles 172 to 209.

AND- The House will review three foreign agreements including:

A pact with Saudi Arabia to promote and protect investments, which could bring in upwards of USD 10 bn in bilateral investments over the next three years;
A treaty with the UAE on the exchange of criminals;
An agreement with the African Development Bank to adopt the SOFR interest rate system in place of LIBOR.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

#1- Egypt plans to host a US economic forum in May, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday, according to Amwal Al Ghad. The forum will see both sides discuss potential investments in sectors including renewable energy, technology, infrastructure, and education.

#2- A French trade mission will visit Egypt in May to explore potential investments in the local market, French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin told Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib during a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, according to a statement.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

With little to no business news in sight, Trump and Gaza are once again setting the agenda for the day. After less than a week since a ceasefire came into effect in the embattled strip and the presidential inauguration, the global commentariat are still trying to figure out whether the fragile ceasefire will hold after its first six week phase and what Trump’s presidency will look like over the next four years once the dust settles from his first few chaotic days.

Over in the states, Trump’s lightning offensive to reshape Washington has seen him pack the Environmental Protection Agency with petrochemical and chemical industry lobbyists, halting flights of Afghan refugees approved for US resettlement, and holding a fiery phone call with the Danish prime minister to demand that America buy Greenland. (Wall Street Journal | Reuters | New York Times)

Trump also put a halt to all foreign aid — bar Egypt and Israel — in a move that will see a 90-day pause that will see assistance from the world’s largest foreign aid donor cut off completely. Newly appointed State Secretary Marco Rubio will now reportedly vet all US foreign aid against the new administration’s foreign policy before turning back on to the tap, according to a State Department cable. The pause’s only exceptions were military aid to Egypt and Israel, in addition to emergency food assistance as mandated by the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month. (Reuters | New York Times)

Also in our part of the world, the second release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages under the first phase of the ceasefire has been ranking high on the world’s digital front pages. Four female members of the Israeli Defence Forces were released by Hamas in exchange for 200 Palestinian hostages held by Israel to celebrating crowds awaiting their return. (Reuters | Associated Press | Wall Street Journal | Bloomberg | New York Times)

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Egypt sets up new advisory committees to ensure private sector involvement in decision making

New private sector advisory committees: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly has announced the formation of six advisory committees that the statement says will ensure continued and deepened communication between policymakers and the private sector as the state pushes its reform drive into the new year.

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The government knows its priorities: Madbouly has identified six focus areas in which the government aims to ensure private sector involvement in the policy-making process — macroeconomics, export development, digital economy and entrepreneurship, tourism development, political affairs, and urban development and real estate exports.

The committees include some prominent names: Each committee hosts a number of senior executives, experts, and private sector investors, including EFG Holding's Karim Awad, Actis’ Sherif ElKholy, HSBC's Helmy Ghazi, Palm Hills' Yasseen Mansour, El Sewedy Electric's Ahmed Elsewedy, Ora's Naguib Sawiris, Eva Pharma's Riad Armanious, Edita's Hani Berzi, Travco's Hamed El Chiaty, and economist Medhat Nafei.

What we know: Each advisory committee will be chaired by Madbouly and will meet at least once a month or as needed, according to the statement. No date for the committees’ initial sessions was specified.

The full list:

Macroeconomics Committee: Hussein Eissa, Khaled Sakr, Omnia Helmy, Hassan Heikal, Sherif El Kholy, Karim Awad, Mohamed Fouad, and Medhat Nafei.
Export development Committee: Omar Mehana, Tarek Tawfik, Ahmed Ezz, Hani Berzi, Abdel Hamid El Demerdash, Ayman Ashry Morgan, Riad Armanious, Alaa Arafa, Hani Cassis, Ahmed Elsewedy, and Fadel Marzouk.
Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Committee: Mohamed Azab, Karim Beshara, Amal Anan, Wael Abouelmaaty, Maged Mahmoud, Tamer Ismail, Louay Youssef, Dalia Ibrahim, Helmy Ghazi, Omar Elsahy, Tamer El Raghy, Mohamed Okasha, and Hossam Seif Eldin.
Tourism Development Committee: Hisham Talaat Moustafa, Kamel Abou Aly, Hamed El Chiaty, Hassan Darwish, Hossam El Shaer, Ahmed El Wassief, Mohamed Nader Hesham, and Bassel Sami Saad.
Political Affairs Committee: Aly Eldin Helal, Abdel Monem Said, Mohamed Kamal, and Gamal Abdel Gawad.
Urban Development and Real Estate Export Committee: Mahmoud El Gammal, Naguib Sawiris, Yasseen Mansour, Khaled Abbas, Amr Soliman, Tarek Shoukry, Ahmed Shalaby, Amgad Hassanein, and Ashraf Arafa.

Hearing out the private sector has been high on the government’s priorities as of late, with Madbouly meeting with a number of prominent players in the local private sector late December to discuss the challenges facing the private sector and the measures private sector players want from the state in the years to come.

SPEAKING OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR- Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib reinforced the need for a private sector-led economy in an interview with CNBC (watch, runtime: 6:42) on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. El Khatib said the government’s role should be to ensure a “clear, predictable, and dependable” business environment to attract investments. El Khatib added that the government could get the private sector to contribute 75% of total investments even before 2030.

Egyptian-Saudi partnership readies USD 2 bn investment: Egypt’s Hassan Allam Properties and Midar Investment and Urban Development inked an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Sumou Investment, and its subsidiary Adeer International, to invest USD 2 bn in hospitality and leisure projects along the Nile in Cairo or within Midar developed cities, Midar said in a statement a statement (p df).

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

This isn’t the first time Hassan Allam Properties and Somou have worked together: Sumou Holding inked an MoU in March last year with Hassan Allam Properties to set up a JV to open up cross-border investments for companies in Saudi Arabia and Egypt and to share expertise. And in July, the two companies inked an agreement to develop a mixed-use development in the east of Cairo with an initial investment of USD 100-150 mn.

Adeer has big plans for Egypt: The Sumou subsidiary plans to invest USD 400 mn in the Egyptian real estate sector over the next five years, CEO Bassel El Serafy said in July. Included in these plans is a mixed-use development in the eastern part of Cairo with Egyptian real estate developer Paragon Developments and the acquisition of half of Egyptian developer Melee Development.

A note from the editor: The story has been amended on 26 January 2025, as an earlier version of it incorrectly referred to Hassan Allam Properties as the real estate arm of Hassan Allam Holding. Hassan Allam Properties is a sister company of Hassan Allam Holding and has a separate legal entity and shareholding structure.

Egypt opens the door for ins. funds to diversify their portfolios

FRA gives ins. funds more investment options: The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has amended the rules governing private ins. funds and the caps on their investments in a move aimed at helping them diversify their investment portfolios, according to a statement.

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Good news for defined benefit funds: The decision allows private ins. funds that operate defined benefit pension plans to invest up to 10% of their total assets in metal-related funds or instruments traded on the EGX, provided the invested amount doesn’t exceed 5% of the ins. fund’s total assets per investment fund. Additionally, defined benefits ins. funds can invest between 5-20% of their total assets in open-ended funds, provided their investments are under 15% of the equity fund’s total assets, while up to 5% of assets can be allocated to venture capital and private equity funds.

What about funds that exceed the new investment limits? Private ins. funds that have already exceeded the maximum investment threshold won’t have to divest their investments to comply with the new limits, but they won’t be allowed to make any further investments.

Limits on uninvested cash: The new rules set a limit on uninvested cash balances for all private ins. funds, capping them at 5% of total assets. They will have a 30-day grace period, provided valid reason — such as pending payouts or reinvestment plans.

More flexibility for defined-contribution funds: The rules also give the boards of defined-contribution ins. funds the autonomy to craft and approve investment policies directly or delegate this role to contracted investment managers. These policies must be pre-approved by the FRA and tailored to contributors’ preferences, including risk tolerance and expected subscription periods.

SOUND SMART- A defined benefit fund guarantees participants a fixed payout upon retirement, typically based on salary history and years of service, with employers footing the bill and carrying the investment risk. Defined contributions plans, meanwhile, shift the responsibility to participants, who contribute to individual accounts and bear the investment risk. Employers may chip in a set amount, but the final payout depends on how well the investments perform.

Tightening oversight and boosting transparency: Under the new regulations, private ins. funds will need to submit quarterly investment reports to the FRA, detailing their assets, bank deposits, securities held by custodians, and other investment activities. Funds will also need to adopt digital platforms that allow members to track their investments in real time.

What’s next? Private ins. funds have six months to comply with the new regulations.

The business community welcomed the new amendments: The decision “enhances the diversification of private ins. funds' investments, reducing the risks of focusing solely on fixed-income instruments, and allows the market to align with global trends in pension fund investments, which reached around 42% in 2023,“ said Beltone Holding’s CEO of Markets Division Khalil Elbawab.

The move is expected to attract long-term institutional investments into the EGX, providing private ins. funds with higher long-term returns to better meet their obligations to members, according to Elbawab. The Egyptian Investment Management Association echoed the same sentiment.

AD Ports to eyes Alexandria logistics hub project

AD Ports looks to add another project to its Egypt pipeline: AD Ports inked an MoU with the Transport Ministry to explore joint development and operations of a 1.1 sq km integrated logistics park in Alexandria Port, according to a statement from the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ-owned company. The logistics park will be one of the largest hubs on the Mediterranean, with Alexandria Port handling approximately 60% of Egypt’s foreign trade.

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What they said: “We are working with the Egyptian government to bring growth, jobs and prosperity to the people of Egypt. Today’s signing could lead to strategic infrastructure projects in the Mediterranean Sea region that would leverage Egypt’s global trade flows, driving economic growth and advancing the Group’s portfolio of value-added investments,’’ Managing Director and Group CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said.

Remember: AD Ports has invested some USD 349 mn in Egypt over the last three years when it really began to establish itself in the country. The global port operator has now acquired local logistics firms TCI and Transmar and maritime services provider Safina. It has also landed an agreement to develop, operate, and manage three cruise terminals in Hurghada, Safaga, and Sharm El Sheikh and another for a planned roll-on, roll-off ship terminal and cruise terminal in Ain Sokhna Port. The company is also looking into setting up a renewables-focused industrial zone in East Port Said.

The Finance Ministry called in to the talkshows to clear up confusion around USD 2 bn facility reports

The Finance Ministry was in damage control on the airwaves last night, rebutting suggestions that it inked an additional and never-before-announced credit facility amounting to USD 2 bn. Representing the ministry was Assistant Finance Minister for Economic Affairs Sherine El Sharkawy, who called in to tell Lamees El Hadidi on Kelma Akhira to argue her case (watch, runtime: 4:41).

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El Sharkawy was responding to an EmiratesNDB statement out Friday, which said that the Finance Ministry was securing a USD 2 bn syndicated facility. The 2.5x oversubscribed facility will go towards bolstering the “country’s budgetary requirements and support the country in safeguarding its strong economic path in the prevailing volatile global markets,” according to the statement.

But this isn’t the first time we’d heard about the facility and it's been in the works for a while now, which led to the Finance Ministry, in addition to talkshow appearances, issuing a statement denying that it had obtained any new credit facilities — emphasis here on the new.

The House approved the loan last December, which many avid readers of EnterpriseAM would have already known from our coverage at the time. “What the bank mentioned in its statement pertains to the same USD 2 bn loan that Egypt obtained whose agreement was approved by the House of Representatives in mid-December,” El Sharkawy explained.

El Sharkawy attributed the confusion to "the delay in the bank's announcement of the loan, which came after completing the necessary procedures and translation, before issuing the statement in Arabic on its part," clarifying that the ministry had already disclosed the loan back in December. She rejected the notion that the country had received any new loans.

AND- The nation’s talking heads also gave significant airtime to the freeing of 200 Palestinian and four Israeli hostages, marking the second such swap under the ceasefire’s first six-week phase. (El Hekaya watch, runtime: 26:51 | Al Hayat Al Youm watch, runtime: 8:31 | Akher Kalema watch, runtime: 6:35, 1:43).

Orascom Construction, Hassan Allam Construction, Elsewedy Electric’s Rowad near completion of USD 1 bn Tripoli Third Ring Road. PLUS: SIAC Construction, Al Amal Auto + Forthing, Ariston, Telecom Egypt + Cisco

CONSTRUCTION-

Egyptian contractors are close to wrapping up one of Libya’s mega infrastructure projects —- Tripoli’s Third Ring Road, with investments of USD 1 bn, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah told Asharq Business (watch, runtime: 33:26). Dbeibah noted that the consortium will complete the project “very soon.”

Refresher: Orascom Construction, Hassan Allam Construction, and Elsewedy Electric subsidy Rowad Modern Engineering back in 2021 signed an agreement with the Libyan government to build a new ring road around Tripoli.

INVESTMENT-

Ariston wants to double its local production: Home appliances manufacturer Ariston has earmarked EUR 30 mn to double its production in Egypt this year, according to a cabinet statement. The company already has three factories in Obour City over 220k sqm.

EXPANSION-

SIAC Construction eyes three big-ticket projects in Saudi Arabia: SIAC Holding Group subsidiary SIAC Construction is studying three separate projects totalling SAR 2 bn — currently equivalent to USD 533.7 mn — SIAC Holding Vice Chairman Ahmed Azmi told Al Borsa. The projects are in the infrastructure, service, and construction sectors.

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HOSPITALITY-

Revamping Marsa Alam’s Carnelia Resort: Nasr General Contracting will develop the fellow state-owned Holding Company for Tourism and Hotel’s Carnelia Beach Resort in Marsa Alam, according to a statement. The first phase of the development will come at an estimated cost of EGP 1.5 bn and include 206 rooms. Travco subsidiary Jaz Hotel Group will manage the hotel following the development.

AUTOMOTIVE-

Al Amal Auto to bring Forthing cars to Egypt: Al Amal Auto, the local agent of Lada and BYD vehicles, became the exclusive agent of Chinese automaker Dongfeng’s Forthing brand, Chairman Amr Soliman told Al Borsa. With an initial investment of USD 5 mn, Al Amal will import and assemble Forthing vehicles locally — it will assemble Forthing’s sedan and SUV models at its Tenth of Ramdan facility by mid-2025.

ECONOMY-

Egypt joins the WEF’s Future of Growth Initiative: Planning Minister Rania Al Mashat has signed a letter of intent with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to launch the Egyptian Future of Growth Accelerator — an event that will bring together ministers, CEOs, and senior leaders from the public and private sectors as well as civil society to promote balanced growth, according to a cabinet statement. Al Mashat will serve as co-chair of the Egyptian Future of Growth Accelerator, the statement reads.

The WEF’s Future of Growth Initiative aims “to recalibrate the global conversation on growth and support decision-makers in achieving a better balance between the quantity and quality of growth,” according to the WEF’s website.

TELECOMS-

TE activates 2Africa’s Mediterranean link: Telecom Egypt (TE) and Cisco have activated a Mediterranean subsea link on the 45k km 2Africa subsea cable, creating a high-capacity connection between Port Said and Marseille via Genoa in Italy, according to a statement. The upgrade, powered by Cisco’s Network Convergence System and Acacia’s coherent modules, boosts capacity to meet the region’s soaring demand for data-heavy services like cloud computing and AI.

FDI growth continued in 2024, but uncertainty weighs on prospects for 2025

Foreign direct investments rose 11% y-o-y to USD 1.4 tn in 2024, though figures dipped 8% when excluding European conduit economies, according to the latest Global Investment Trends Monitor (pdf) released by UN Trade and Development. Greenfield projects fell 8% y-o-y, while their value fell 7% — though still remaining only second to their 2023 peak.

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The Middle East attracted USD 70 bn in FDI last year, marking a 13% increase y-o-y, with diversification initiatives and mega-projects in renewable energy, technology, and tourism leading the way, the Khaleej Times reports. Saudi Arabia alone recorded USD 30 bn in FDI inflows, spurred by transformative projects like the USD 500 bn Neom development, but the Middle East and GCC stand out as a whole as resilient regions, driven by diversification strategies and sustainability-focused investments.

International project finance — most critical for infrastructure projects — continued a downward trend with a 26% decline in volume and a decline of about a third in terms of value. Meanwhile, cross-border M&A activity fell 13% y-o-y, though total values increased by 2%.

Expect “moderate growth” for FDI in 2025, though not without downside risks. A toxic mashup of geopolitical tensions, inflation, and shifting trade dynamics could spur uncertainty among investors and spell trouble for global FDI flows. Still, some investors — private equity funds in particular — are expected to use up a lot of their dry powder, especially on tech firms amid the ongoing AI boom.

Prospects look good for the Middle East: The GCC region is expected to see vibrant FDI growth in 2025, fueled by improved financing conditions and an increase in mergers and acquisitions, Khaleej Times quotes the report as saying.

EGX30	29,998	+0.1% (YTD: +0.9%)
USD (CBE)	Buy 50.22	Sell 50.36
USD (CIB)	Buy 50.23	Sell 50.33
Interest rates (CBE)	27.25% deposit	28.25% lending
Tadawul	12,354	-0.1% (YTD: +2.6%)
ADX	9564	+0.2% (YTD: +1.5%)
DFM	5226	-0.4% (YTD: +1.3%)
S&P 500	6101	-0.3% (YTD: +3.7%)
FTSE 100	8502	-0.7% (YTD: +4.0%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5219	+0.04% (YTD: +6.6%)
Brent crude	USD 78.50	+0.3%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 4.03	+2.1%
Gold	USD 2,806.60	+0.5%
BTC	USD 105,216.50	+0.1% (YTD: +12.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The EGX30 rose 0.1% at Thursday’s close on turnover of EGP 3.7 bn (3.7% below the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 0.9% YTD.

In the green: Eastern Company (+3.6%), Juhayna (+3.0%), and Cleopatra Hospitals (+1.5%).

In the red: Oriental Weavers (-3.2%), Egypt Kuwait Holding -EGP (-1.4%), and Sidpec (-1.2%).

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Banque Misr will increase the bank’s authorized capital to EGP 300 bn, and its issued capital to EGP 110 bn, the state-owned lender said in a statement (pdf).

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Cairo visit sees Egypt-Somalia relations raised to strategic partnership

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Thursday during the Somali head of state’s official visit to the country, according to an Ittihadiya statement. The two presidents inked an agreement to raise bilateral relations to a strategic partnership that covers “political, military, cultural, and economic axes.” A meeting between the two will be held every year to follow upon efforts to strengthen bilateral nations between the countries.

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The two nations’ foreign ministers who inked several MoUs, including for diplomatic training and visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic passports

The two presidents discussed security and military cooperation, reaffirming their commitments to a protocol signed in August 2024 aimed at strengthening Somalia’s security capabilities and combating terrorism. Egypt’s role in the new African Union mission in Somalia was also highlighted as part of broader efforts to support the Somali state and its institutions.

Economic cooperation expands with new initiatives: Economic ties were also a key focus, with discussions on the recently established EgyptAir line between Cairo and Mogadishu. The leaders explored potential areas for further collaboration, including health, judicial cooperation, and capacity building, aiming to sustain and grow momentum in bilateral relations.

CALENDAR

JANUARY

23 January- 5 February (Thursday-Wednesday): Cairo International Book Fair, Egypt International Exhibitions Center, Cairo

28 January (Tuesday): Nigeria to inaugurate the USD 5 bn Africa Energy Bank in Abuja

28-29 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

29 January - 8 February (Wednesday-Saturday): Business Ya Shabab exhibition, Cairo Stadium

Health Ministry finalizes partnership with Gustave Roussy to operate Dar El Salam Hospital.

Building permit applications in Egypt's new cities will go online

Accor Group to open Sofitel Cairo Downtown Nile, the world’s largest Sofitel.

Egyptian National Railways to launch tender for Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta railway line upgrades

Food products will require food safety and validity certificates from the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA)

Bavarian delegation visit to Egypt

FEBRUARY

BP to bring the second well of its Raven natural gas project online, with additional production capacity expected.

Orascom Pyramids Entertainment to bring total investments in the Pyramids Plateau to EGP 1.5 bn.

Subscription period for Your Home in Egypt initiative opens.

2 February: Energy Day Conference, Cairo, Egypt.

17 February: (Monday): Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides will visit Egypt to sign agreements to transport Cypriot gas to Egypt to be liquefied and exported.

17-19 February (Monday-Wednesday): EGYPES Technical Conference, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, Egypt.

18-19 February (Saturday-Sunday): German-Egyptian Joint Economic Committee meetings, Cairo, Egypt

20 February (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee's first meeting.

MARCH

Arla Foods’ deadline for Domty acquisition offer

Operation of phase one of the Amotope wind farm

Alwaad Investment to inaugurate a new cold beverage plant with an annual production capacity of 14.5 mn units.

Al Ahly Sabbour to finalize preparations for its EGX listing, offering 20-25% of its shares, with an advisor to be tapped in early 2025.

March-April 2025: The government plans to start collecting taxes on capital gains from EGX transactions.

APRIL

Government begins talks with EU on the second tranche of the of the EUR 5 bn concessional loans package

Saxony Delegation visit to Egypt.

Egypt to launch trial operations of the first phase of its USD 1.8 bn Egypt-Saudi electricity interconnection project, ahead of schedule

Tahya Misr 1 container terminal to begin operations, adding 3.5 mn container capacity to the port.

7-9 April (Monday-Wednesday): Narrative PR Summit launches 9th edition, Red Sea

7-10 April (Monday-Thursday): EFG Hermes One on One conference, Dubai, UAE

17 April (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s second meeting.

28-30 April (Monday-Wednesday): FDC Regional Digital Industry Summit will launch cybersecurity index.

MAY

22 May (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s third meeting.

Egyptian Exporters Association (Expolink) exhibition, Italy

French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom will submit technical and financial bids for Cairo Metro Line 6

JUNE

June 2025: MPs approveextension of tax dispute resolution window until 30 June 2025, with potential for further extension

June 2025: Nissan and Honda finalise talks about possible merger to create the world’s third largest automobile company by sales.

June 2025: Coficab to complete its USD 88 mn automotive cable and electrical factory in Tenth of Ramadan City

JULY

10 July 2025 (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s fourth meeting.

15-16 July 2025 (Tuesday-Wednesday): Egypt Mining Forum.

July 2025: The first operational trail of Egypt-KSA electricity interconnection line.

July 2025: Etihad Airways to launch twice-weekly flights to Alamein

July 2025: Israel to begin increasing gas exports to Egypt from Chevron’s offshore Tamar field

AUGUST

28 August 2025 (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s fifth meeting.

August 2025: Tourism Development Authority to waive late payment penalties for land purchases if full installments are paid

SEPTEMBER

September 2025: Egypt Education Platform (EEP) to launch two new schools in Alexandria and Somabay

September 2025: Egypt Otsuka’s nutritional products factory in Tenth of Ramadan to begin operations, with exports to Gulf countries expected by January 2026

OCTOBER

2 October 2025 (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s sixth meeting.

NOVEMBER

20 November 2025 (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s seventh meeting.

DECEMBER

25 December 2025 (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee’s eighth meeting.

December 2025: Taqa Arabia and Voltalia to complete studies for repowering the 545-MW Zafarana wind farm with 1.1 GW of wind and 2.1 GW of solar power

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

Early 2025: ADQ to break ground on the development of Ras El Hekma

Early 2025: Al Ismaelia to begin working on two new hotels and hotel apartments in Downtown Cairo.

Early 2025: The Communications Ministry will unveil the second edition of its national AI strategy in early 2025

Early 2025: The Suez Canal Authority to launch an IPO for the Canal Company for Mooring and Lights (CCML) on the EGX.

Early 2025: Orange Egypt to launch 5G services, with EGP 10 bn planned for network upgrades.

Early 2025: BP to begin drilling at the King Mariout Offshore concession.

Early 2025: Jinbei Royal Egypt to begin local assembly of 3k Jinbei vehicles, including the country’s first electric cargo van and microbus

1Q 2025: The Egyptian-Italian business forum

1Q 2025: Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib to visit Italy

1Q 2025: Eipico’s biopharma plant to begin operations

1Q 2025: Finance Ministry to launch public consultations on its tax policy document

1Q 2025: Egypt to sign trade agreements with Bahrain and UAE to slash customs clearance times

1Q 2025: Government to launch EUR 271 mn green industry program to cut emissions

1Q 2025: Egypt-Azerbaijan joint committee to meet to bolster trade and investment ties

1Q 2025: Turkish Automotive Manufacturers Association and Turkish Contractors Association to visit Egypt following an invitation from the Investment Minister

1Q 2025: One of four companies, including Abu Qir Fertilizers, Mopco, Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company, and a Saudi-affiliated firm, to be selected for the USD 450 mn redevelopment of Delta Fertilizers

1Q 2025: GV Auto to begin local production of FAW Group’s cheapest EV model.

1Q 2025: Alkan Auto to launch BAIC subsidiary Arcfox’s EVs to the market.

1Q 2025: Dynamic Distribution to launch a new competitively-priced Fiat model in Egypt.

1Q 2025: BP to drill two USD 160 mn exploratory gas wells in the West Delta.

1Q 2025: Port Said for Engineering Works to begin construction on a USD 80 mn aluminum foil factory in the SCZone, targeting initial production of 60k tons annually.

1Q 2025: Pearl Polyurethane Systems to start production at its EGP 100 mn polyurethane factory in the Sokhna Industrial Zone.

1Q 2025: Sumitomo Electric to officially open its EUR 22 mn cable factory in Tenth of Ramadan, with production set to begin next month.

1Q 2025: Construction of the USD 600 mn natural gas treatment plant in the Western Desert’s Meleiha concession to wrap up, followed by a pilot run.

1Q 2025: El Araby Group and Sharp to break ground on a USD 50 mn fridge and freezer manufacturing plant in the Quweisna zone.

1Q 2025: Hangzhou Henneway Travel Goods to begin production at its USD 50 mn factory in the West Qantara Industrial Zone

1Q 2025: BP to drill two USD 160 mn exploratory gas wells in the West Delta

Mid-2025: EGX launches sustainability index.

2Q 2025: Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to introduce derivatives on the EGX

2Q 2025: Safaga Terminal 2 to start operations

2Q 2025: Hassan Allam to build infrastructure for AD Ports' Noatum terminal at Safaga

2Q 2025: EgyptSat Auto to start production at its EV factory in Tenth of Ramadan City

1H 2025: EGX launches a sharia-compliant sustainability index.

1H 2025: Digital Financial Identity Company will launch an electronic bank account opening service

1H 2025: The Egyptian-US Investment Forum.

1H 2025: The Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority will relaunch a global tender for gold exploration through Shalateen Mineral Resources company.

1H 2025: Internal Trade Development Authority (ITDA) to establishfour logistics zones with EGP 18-20 bn investments

1H 2025: Natco to launch Chinese firm Neta Auto’s EV models.

1H 2025: OCI Global to complete the sale of its entire methanol business to Methanex for USD 2.05 bn.

1H 2025: Egypt and the UAE to begin construction of a USD 3 bn petroleum logistics zone at Al Hamra Port

1H 2025: HoldiPharma to list 25-30% stakes in Misr Pharma and Chemical Industries Development (CID) on the EGX

1H 2025: Korra Energi to list up to 20% stake on the EGX

1H 2025: Smart Villages Development and Management Company plans to list 30-35% of its shares on the EGX

1H 2025: Halliburton to bring three gas wells online as part of the Burullus project.

1H 2025: Chevron to begin gas production from the offshore Nargis gas field, initially producing 600 mn cf.

1H 2025: Nile Recycling to launch USD 20 mn PET recycling facility in Ain Sokhna, targeting an annual capacity of 22k tons and reducing carbon emissions by 40k tons

3Q 2025: AMEA Power to bring 500 MW Amunet wind farm online in Ras Ghareb

4Q 2025: Abou Ghaly Motors to introduce the Subaru Solterra to the market

4Q 2025: Two new projects in food manufacturing and home textiles to begin operations in the Qantara West Industrial Zone

2H 2025: National Printing Company to make its EGX debut after delayed IPO plans

2H 2025: Tabarak Holding to list 30% of its shares on the EGX

2H 2025: Turkish apparel company Denim Rise to open a garment manufacturing facility

2H 2024: Hi-Tech Apparel to break ground on a USD 20 mn sportswear factory in the SCZone

2H 2025: Eni to drill two new wells in the Zohr field with USD 160 mn in investments

Mid-2025: The Administrative Capital for Urban Developments to roll out the second phase of offering industrial plots to investors

Mid-2025: SN Automotive to launch three locally assembled models — one electric and two gasoline-powered — in Egypt

Mid-2025: Suez’s USD 1.8 bn coal and diesel production complex, developed by Enppi and Petrojet, to be completed

Mid-2025: Wataneya and Safi to debut on the EGX

End of 2025: The Egypt Digital Industrial Platform will expand to include additional services for manufacturers, including the issuance of licenses, building permits, and industrial records

End of 2025: An unnamed Chinese company and the state-owned Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) to begin production at a USD 360 mn tire factory in the SCZone.

End of 2025: A consortium including Redcon Properties and Al Baraka Bank to launch a local real estate investment fund with over EGP 1 bn in initial investments

Late 2025: Baron Hotels to open a new hotel in Sharm El Sheikh and debut its first international property in Zanzibar with 150 luxury suites

2025: The InterAcademy Partnership assembly

2025: Nile Basin States Summit, Cairo, Egypt

2025: Release of the government’s Startup Charter document

2025: Nafeza to integrate air cargo into its digital customs platform, further streamlining trade logistics

2025: Africa50 completes 42.9% stake acquisition in Raya Data Centers for USD 15 mn to fund construction of a USD 35 mn Tier III data center.

2025: MM Group for Industry and International Trade is set to launch 16 new Tata vehicle models locally.

2025: China to issue USD 411 bn in special treasury bonds

2025: El Attal Holding to list 30-35% of its shares on the EGX

2025: The Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) to launch its EGX debut, offering 5-10% of its shares.**

2025: Basata Holding for Financial Investments to offer 25% stake on the EGX as part of a plan to double its capital to EGP 1.4 bn.**

2025: Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi to open early in the year, alongside debuts of Tapestry Collection and Curio Collection by Hilton.

2025: Palm Hills and Marriott to launch The Ritz-Carlton Residences in West Cairo, featuring 150 branded units across 45 acres

2025: Jaz Hotel Group to set up two new hotels in North Coast, two in Hurghada, and two in Marsa Alam

2025: Sunrise Resorts & Cruises to add 4k hotel rooms to its hotels capacity.

2025: Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) to complete studies and kick off production of Egypt’s first sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).

2025: Polaris Parks to begin development of the industrial park in New October City

2025: EgyptAlum to launch a USD 100 mn foil production line with a 50k-ton annual capacity

2025: Honor to begin operations at its proposed smartphone manufacturing facility in Egypt, with an initial investment of USD 10 mn

2025: Indorama and Phosphate Misr to begin implementation of the USD 400-500 mn phosphate fertilizers plant in Ain Sokhna

FY 2025-26: Egypt to issue its first EGP-denominated sovereign sukuk to finance public investments outside the general budget

FY 2025-26: The government to begin introducing cash-based subsidies on a trial basis in select areas of the country

2025-2027: EUR 4 bn in concessional loans to follow as part of a EUR 7.4 bn package

2026

Baron Hotels to launch two hotels in Egypt with 950 rooms, followed by another with 750 rooms.

May 2026: End of extension for developers on 15% interest rates for land installment payments

2027

20 January-7 February: Egypt to host the African Games

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

End of 2027: Trial operations at the Dabaa nuclear power plant expected to take place

September 2028: First unit of the Dabaa nuclear power plant begins operations

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