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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

China Energy to set up renewable tech facilities in Egypt

Good afternoon, folks, and a very happy Thursday to us all. We hope you’ve a fantastic weekend.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

China Energy is speeding up renewable energy tech facilities in Egypt: China Energy is gearing up to set up manufacturing facilities for new and renewable energy technologies in Egypt in addition to its upcoming green hydrogen and green ammonia projects, the company chairman Song Hailiang said during his meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on the sidelines of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation currently happening in Beijing.

Deepening presence in Egypt: China Energy plans to move its main headquarters in North Africa to Egypt, with 12 projects currently present in the country worth USD 2 bn, Song added. Madbouly has encouraged the company to accelerate the localization of solar energy photovoltaic industries, renewable energy storage batteries, and wind towers in Egypt, affirming the government’s will to provide any necessary incentives.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

Despite Netanyahu’s insistence on retaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor, his Strategic Affairs minister says they are open to negotiation. Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly refused to cede control of the border between Egypt and Gaza, marking it as his priority in response to pro-ceasefire protests in Tel Aviv. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer now says that the Israeli PM is willing to discuss the issue once a ceasefire takes place, with the stipulation that the occupying state maintains a presence to prevent Hamas from rearming. Netanyahu has claimed that the border between Gaza and Egypt has been used to smuggle arms to Hamas, despite both parties rejecting these claims. (Bloomberg)

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

  • El Sisi touches down in Turkey: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi made his first officialvisit to Turkey yesterday, meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the latest step toward strengthening relations between the former regional rivals.
  • TotalEnergies has a plan to put our LNG facilities to good use: French energy company TotalEnergies wants 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.
  • My Morning Routine with Jaeyung Kwon: In our weekly section, we sat down with Jaeyung Kwon, the co-founder of Museeum, the retail management company specializing in curating gift shops of different heritage destinations, including the Grand Egyptian Museum.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The mercury is creeping up again tomorrow in Cairo with a high of 35°C before simmering to a low of 25°C by night, according to our favorite weather app.

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FOR YOUR COMMUTE

Is SearchGPT really a threat to Google?

Will OpenAI’s SearchGPT dethrone Google Search? With minimal access to the new model and an already full waiting list, OpenAI’s SearchGPT has had people wondering if it could dethrone Google Search after 25 years of glory. The consensus? Not anytime soon.

OpenAI wants SearchGPT to be your go-to destination for accurate, sourced, and fast information. “Getting answers on the web can take a lot of effort,” the site says, “often requiring multiple attempts to get relevant results.” Rather than a conventional results list, SearchGPT wants its AI model to respond to queries in a conversational manner while providing a list of sources for fact-checking. The model will allow for follow-up questions. It’s not yet clear whether SearchGPT will use a subscription-based model, an ad-supported free version, or be included in a general ChatGPT subscription.

Users and publishers have reported mixed reviews. AI and cybersecurity researcher Ananay Arora says that the tool “doesn’t seem to pose much of a threat to Google so far,” saying that he expected a game changer “given [OpenAI’s] history of state-of-the-art models.” On the other hand, CEO of AI Mistakes Daniel Lemire said OpenAI’s search tool is better than AI-generated results like Google Overviews, saying he “would choose SearchGPT over Google any day.” Users pinpointed Perplexity’ s search model as a better example of what OpenAI hopes to achieve.

The infamous GenAI hallucinations are still alive and well. One user reported that SearchGPT isn’t immune to GenAI’s tendency to dole out nonsense and completely fabricated information. “A big downside to AI search is it will tell you things with complete confidence that are just false.”

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ENTERPRISE RECOMMENDS

Don’t anger this action-heroine.

Damsel in distress? Not anymore. Damsel is a fantasy film with a contemporary take on the common trope. Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) finds herself thrown into an arranged marriage to a prince, only to find out that the whole thing was a trap.

Brown showcases a fierce and resourceful heroine. Instead of resigning herself to her fate, Elodie uses her quick wit to solve her predicament, escape the wrath of a dragon, and confront a corrupt kingdom. Elodie's journey from a poised princess to a battle-worn survivor — all while in a wedding dress — challenges outdated notions of femininity and strength.

No ground broken here. While Brown delivers a compelling performance, the character and the plot are lacking in innovation. Brown herself has previously played an expectation-defying young woman in more than one role, so while the mechanics of the film feels stale, the actress uses her experience to bring life into the character. There are a few glimmers of ingenuity in a film that may mostly feel shoddily put together.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch Damsel on Netflix or watch the trailer (runtime: 2:59).

⚽ The Pharaohs warm up for their journey to the African Cup: The Egyptian national team will be meeting Cape Verde at Cairo stadium tomorrow at 10pm in the first round of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. Our homegrown team has been placed in Group C with Cape Verde, Mauritania and Botswana.

Other qualifier highlights to look out for during the weekend:

  • Ghana vs. Angola — Group F (today, 7pm).
  • Algeria vs. Equatorial Guinea — Group E (today, 10pm).
  • Tunisia vs. Madagascar — Group A (today, 10pm).
  • Morocco vs. Gabon — Group B (Friday, 9pm).
  • Senegal vs. Burkina Faso — Group L (Friday, 10pm).
  • Côte d’Ivoire vs. Zambia — Group G (Friday, 10pm).
  • Cameroon vs. Namibia — Group J (Saturday, 7pm).
  • Nigeria vs. Benin — Group D (Saturday, 7pm).

The fourth edition of the UEFA Nations League is also kicking off today, and will be extending into the weekend with a packed schedule. Nine matches will be played tonight, but these are the ones we’re keeping an eye on:

  • Serbia vs. Spain — Group D (9:45pm).
  • Denmark vs. Switzerland — Group D (9:45pm).
  • Portugal vs. Croatia — Group A (9:45pm).

The weekend schedule contains the most important matches of this round:

  • France vs. Italy — Group B (Friday, 9:45pm).
  • Germany vs. Hungary — Group C (Friday, 9:45pm).
  • Ireland vs. England — Group B (Saturday, 7pm).

? OUT AND ABOUT-
(all times CLT)

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

If you want to LOL head to the High Five stand up comedy show with Abdelrahman Mohamed, Badr Nour Eldin, Gamal Ramzy, Fekry Tarek, and Pola Samwel at Theatro Arkan in Sheikh Zayed tomorrow starting 8pm. Book your spot for the show here.

For the love of Coldplay: Strawberry Swing will be performing Coldplay’s top hits at Sawy Culture Wheel in Zamalek tonight at 7:30pm. Grab your tickets here.

For fans of Lege-cy, don't miss his live performance alongside DJ Totti at CJC 610 on Saturday, 7 September, at 10pm. Message their Facebook page to reserve your seats.

HAPPENING LATER-

Listen to people’s stories and tell your own at this interactive comedy show. Ain Gamal will take to the stage at the 6th edition MedFest EG. Enjoy the unique blend of comedy on Friday, 13 September at Ewart Hall in AUC Tahrir Square. Grab your tickets here.

Idreesi is back with another powerful performance. Following his sold-out show in Cairo in March 2023, he’s once again about to perform the electro-pop and synth-pop sounds fused with Arabic melodies and poetry that have defined his career. Catch the show on Thursday, September 12 at Rawabet Art Space. Grab your tickets while you can — one of the shows is already sold out.

The Ice Warrior Challenge makes a thrilling return to Ski Egypt, featuring over 20 challenging obstacles at freezing temperatures, this is the ultimate endurance test for athletes. The event will take place on Saturday 28 September starting at 9am. Book your spot here.

Relive the magic of Amy Winehouse with The Amy Winehouse Band. This isn’t just a tribute band, it’s Winehouse’s actual original band keeping her spirit and legacy alive. Witness the era defining music at The Theater in Somabay on Saturday, 5 October. Grab your tickets here.

Run in the most historic city in the world at the Luxor Half Marathon. The event will take place on Friday, 11 October and there are three options for races: 21km, 10km, and a family run. So pick your race and register here.

? EARS TO THE GROUND-

Science that fits into your day. If you’re fascinated by new scientific discoveries or curious about the mysteries of everyday life, Short Wave is the perfect podcast to squeeze into your busy routine. This NPR gem delivers bite-sized science content, often laced with a bit of humor, making even complex topics accessible to everyone.

A timely episode: The CDC Says COVID Is Endemic. That Doesn't Mean the Danger Is Past tackles an issue that has been at the forefront of our lives for years — Covid-19. The episode clarifies what it means for the virus to be labeled as endemic, and why we still need to stay vigilant despite this shift in terminology. Hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber bring in expert Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, to explain why we shouldn’t be complacent, even if the virus is now a permanent fixture in our lives.

Each episode is under 15 minutes, making it an ideal listen for your coffee break or morning walk. Tune in for the facts, stay for the creative storytelling, and leave feeling just a little bit smarter each time.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

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GO WITH THE FLOW

What the markets are doing on 5 September 2024

The EGX30 rose 0.1% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 5.5 bn (41.7% above the 90-day average). Regional investors were net sellers. The index is up 24.7% YTD.

In the green: Elsewedy Electric (+2.1%), Madinet Masr (+1.4%), and Ezz Steel (+1.4%).

In the red: Edita (-3.7%), ADIB (-2.2%), and Orascom Construction (-2.0%).

This publication is proudly sponsored by

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Office life

Gen Z is pushing traditional work ideals to the side

The first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age is now making its mark on the workforce. By next year, Gen Z is expected to make up 27% of the global workforce, and with them comes higher technological proficiency, work-life balance, and the demand for meaningful and fulfilling employment. These nontraditional values are expected to redefine what it means to work in the 21st century.

Companies might have to change to adapt to their new employees. Over half of the generation spends 4+ hours on online platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, and expect it to be a natural part of their work life. To keep these workers engaged, companies may have to integrate more collaborative apps and prioritize instant communication methods like Slack or Zoom over email.

But it’s not just about the gadgets. Gen Z is all about finding work that aligns with their personal values and makes a difference — if a company’s mission doesn’t resonate with them, they’re not likely to stick around. Teamwork and peer feedback is important to them, which has led to a rise in collaborative workspaces and team-oriented practices.

Finally, work-life balance is a top priority for Gen Z. Enduring long hours or demanding work cultures are their don'ts of accepting a job — especially when it affects their personal time. About 63% favor hybrid work, and 12% prefer fully remote roles, valuing flexibility and mental health benefits, which is why companies have become more open to giving flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and adjustable hours — Wellness programs and mental health initiatives are also being prioritized to support overall employee well-being.

To keep pace with Gen Z, companies like Spotify and Google are making changes. Investments in all their needs are one of the primary adaptations, as organizations upgrade their digital infrastructure to support Gen Z’s tech-driven approach. Spotify has rolled out a program allowing employees to work from anywhere, dubbing this initiative Work from Anywhere Forever. Whereas Google has an apprenticeship program that caters to the newcomers of the workplace to ease their transition.

Integrating Gen Z into the workplace presents both challenges and opportunities. Differences in work styles, communication preferences, and expectations can lead to generational clashes. Meaning Gen Z’s informal work style and preference for digital communication may conflict with older generations' more traditional approaches. Additionally, their expectations for frequent feedback and flexible arrangements can challenge existing management practices.

Gen Z’s impact on the workplace is just beginning. As they continue to enter the workforce, expect more emphasis on flexibility, technology, and purpose-driven work. AI, and remote work tools will become even more common, reshaping how we work. In a nutshell, Gen Z is driving a major shift in the work landscape. Companies that embrace their values and adapt to their needs will not only attract top talent but also stay ahead in this ever-evolving work environment.


16 July-15 October (Tuesday-Tuesday): In the Company of Mahmoud Said exhibition at Aisha Fahmy Palace.

5 September (Thursday): Strawberry Swing, Coldplay Tribute concert at Sawy Culture Wheel.

6 September (Friday): The High Five stand up comedy show at Theatro Arkan.

12 September (Thursday): Idreesi Live in Cairo at Rawabet Art Space.

12-15 September (Thursday-Sunday): MEDFEST Egypt at AUC Tahrir Square.

13 September (Friday): Omar Khairat’s concert at ZED Park.

13 September (Friday): Ain Gamal X 6th edition MedFest EG at AUC Tahrir Square.

13 September (Friday): 100 Years of Singing Concert with Ali El Haggar at Cairo Opera House.

14 September - 19 October (Saturday-Saturday): Fiction Workshop with Mai Serhan at Diwan Heliopolis.

15 September (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

19 September (Thursday): Omar Khairat concert at ZED Park.

20 September (Friday): Bikers Automotive Festival at El Leila El Kebira.

23-24 September (Monday-Tuesday): Omar Khairat concert at Cairo Opera House.

26-29 (Thursday-Sunday): She Arts festival at AUC Tahrir.

28 September (Saturday): Ice Warrior Challenge at Ski Egypt.

OCTOBER

5 October (Saturday): The Amy Winehouse Band at The Theater in Somabay.

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

11 October (Friday): Half Marathon in Luxor.

3-12 October (Thursday-Thursday): Film My Design festival at Zawya Cinema.

10-12 October (Thursday-Saturday): EVs Electrify! Expo & Conference 2024 at Egypt International Exhibition Center.

13-17 October (Friday-Tuesday): Cairo Water Week at The New Administrative Capital.

29-30 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference (ICEC) at Waldorf Astoria.

NOVEMBER

14-16 November (Thursday-Saturday): Raabta Wellness Festival at El Gouna.

DECEMBER

14 December (Saturday): The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

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