GEM to officially open its doors in November

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Grand Egyptian Museum to officially open its doors in November

Good morning, wonderful people, and happy THURSDAY to you all. We open this morning with big news:

MAY WE HAVE DRUM ROLL, PLEASE? The grand opening of the even grander Grand Egyptian Museum will take place on Saturday, 1 November, according to a cabinet statement. The opening event festivities for the world’s largest archaeological museum “may extend over more than a day, perhaps three days, a week, or even months,” museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim previously said.

REMEMBER- The government delayed the opening of the museum following Israel striking Iran mid-June, pushing the grand opening from 3 July to the last quarter of the year. The museum is expected to attract up to 5 mn visitors a year and provide a boost to a sector that employs around 10% of Egypt’s workforce.

FROM THE DEPT. OF “MOVE ALONG NOW, FOLKS”- Our friends at EFG Holding told the regulator yesterday they’re pushing ahead with a “capital decrease,” and there’s really not much to talk about here. The company is cancelling 23.7 mn shares that it bought as part of last year’s buyback program. In purely regulatory terms, that means the company filed for a “capital decrease” that will see its paid-up capital dip to EGP 7.18 bn from EGP 7.30 bn as it cancels the 23.7 mn shares at their par value of EGP 5 apiece. You can check out their disclosure here.

SOUND SMART- Cancelling treasury shares is typically the last step in a share buyback. A share buyback is when a company repurchases its own shares, effectively making them treasury shares and shrinking the total pool of outstanding stock in the market. Companies doing this will generally retire the shares at the end of the process. The net effect: Each remaining share becomes more valuable because earnings are spread across fewer shares, and the share price often goes up as a result. It also gives shareholders who took the buyback an easy exit. Everyone else? Enjoy the scarcity premium.

EFG Holding shares closed at EGP 23.45 yesterday on the EGX, up more than 21% on a 12-month basis. They hit a 12-month high of 31.85 in May.

Speaking of EFG Holding: Shares of U Consumer Finance (better known as Valu, EFG Holding’s fintech and consumer finance powerhouse) can now be traded the same day and on margin. The shares qualified on Sunday. Valu went public on the EGX at the end of June with Amazon as its newest direct shareholder. Shareholders of EFG Holding received U Consumer Finance as part of EFG Holding’s dividend program this year, giving them a windfall worth north of USD 63 mn.

PSA-

Attention, Thanaweya Amma grads. The second phase of the public university enrollment system tansik opened yesterday and will run through Sunday 10 August. Thanaweya Amma students from both the new and old systems can now log on to the website to submit their university preferences, where they can also find a step-by-step guide to the process and an updated list of accredited institutions.

** A more detailed breakdown of everything you need to know is available in a statement posted on the Higher Education Ministry’s Facebook page.

WEATHER- It’s another warm day in Cairo, with a high of 34°C and a low of 25°C, according to our favorite weather app.

It’s a little cooler in Alexandria, with a high of 31°C and a low of 24°C.

Mark your calendar for the 2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum, our flagship forum and part of our must-attend series of invitation-only, C-suite-level gatherings. Tap to register your interest to attend. Want to partner with us? Reach out to Moustafa Taalab at mtaalab@enterprisemea.com to discuss how you can sponsor.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Fresh initiatives targeting expats? The Madbouly government is currently working with the central bank to launch new initiatives — similar to the expat car-for-FX scheme — to increase remittances sent in from Egyptians abroad, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said during his weekly presser (watch, runtime: 57:52). “[The increase in remittances] reflects the confidence of Egyptians abroad in the stability of the economic situation,” he said.

ICYMI- Remittances from Egyptians abroad saw a substantial rise in May, climbing 24.2% y-o-y to reach about USD 3.4 bn, marking the highest figure ever recorded in May.

He also touched on the old rent amendments: “We will not leave anyone entitled to housing worried about their future home,” he said, referencing the recently-ratified amendments to the Old Rent Law. He said that the cabinet will begin holding meetings next week to look into the mechanisms of implementing these changes.

REMEMBER- President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday signed into law amendments to the Old Rent Law. The legislation sets a seven-year transitional period for tenants to vacate residential units and five years for non-residential units rented by individuals, after which all old rent contracts will be scrapped.

#2- The Financial Regulatory Authority has issued Egypt’s first-ever national standards for the financial valuation of intangible assets — including trademarks, software, patents, and IP rights — to boost transparency, investor confidence, and market efficiency, according to an authority statement.

The details: The standards cover income-based, market-based, and cost-based valuation methods. They also define when an intangible asset can be recognized, such as being separable from the business or tied to contractual rights. The standards will apply to all valuations conducted under the FRA’s supervision.

SMART POLICY- Regulations for evaluating intangible assets like patents and trademarks are vital, especially when you’re working towards building a healthy, knowledge-based economy. They ensure transparent and accurate financial reporting and fair valuations for companies, aiding strategic decisions. These regulations boost investor confidence and facilitate financing for innovative businesses, especially startups, by providing clear, reliable valuation standards for non-physical assets.

** DID YOU KNOW that we cover Saudi Arabia and the UAE?

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HAPPENING TODAY-

The Finance Ministry will begin disbursing overdue export subsidies totaling EGP 5 bn to some 2k exporters today under the revamped export subsidy program, which will see exporters receive 50% of their overdue dues in cash over four years, with the rest offset against liabilities.

HAPPENING SOON-

The business community and policymakers will have their eyes on incoming July inflation figures, which are expected to be released at the end of this week, or by Sunday at the latest. Last time round, annual headline urban inflation unexpectedly fell 1.9 percentage points to 14.9% in June, ending an upward trend that extended over three consecutive months. However, energy and tobacco price increases could push up the headline figure this time.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Front pages are dominated this morning with major trade shake-ups from the White House, a critical turning point in the Gaza war, and a mixed bag of corporate earnings.

Trump escalates tariff blitz on India and chips: US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on India to 50% to take effect starting 27 August, a punishment for its purchases of Russian oil which the White House says is fueling the war in Ukraine. Trump also said he is planning a potential 100% tariff on semiconductor chips from countries that do not have manufacturing operations in the US, a move seen as targeting China.

Tailored for Apple: The iPhone maker will be exempted from the potentially crippling chip tariff after CEO Tim Cook announced the company would increase its investment in US suppliers and jobs.

MEANWHILE- The earnings season pushes on:

Disney reported a strong 3Q, with net income climbing to USD 5.26 bn, more than doubling from a year earlier. Revenue hit USD 23.65 bn, driven by strength in its domestic theme parks and a growing streaming business.
Uber beat revenue expectations with an 18% y-o-y increase to USD 12.65 bn and announced a major USD 20 bn stock buyback.
McDonald's saw its sales return to growth, with revenue hitting USD 6.8 bn driven by new menu items like the revived Snack Wrap and a focus on its chicken offerings.
Airbnb saw revenue rise 13% to USD 3.1 bn, beating analyst estimates.

ALSO- Israel on the brink of full Gaza occupation: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing his security cabinet to approve a “full conquest” of the Gaza Strip. The push for a full takeover comes as Gazans are increasingly starving to death, and faces significant opposition from Israel’s own military chief Eyal Zamir, who warned that such an operation would put an unbearable weight on the Israeli army and endanger the remaining captives.

Also worth reading this morning:

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government revived of a EUR 13.5 bn project to build the world’s longest suspension bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, framing it as part of the country's defense and NATO spending plans.

Egypt moves closer to simplifying the tax system for investors

The General Authority for Investment and Freezones has finalized its inventory of all the 2,224 different fees faced by investors, a government source told EnterpriseAM. All 67 relevant government entities were contacted and shared the fees and stamps they collect, according to our source.

The inventory was done ahead of a Finance Ministry and Investment Ministry plan to replace the myriad and often confusing set of fees with a single unified additional tax on net income. Following three months of study, this move sets the stage for Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk and Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib to meet and finalize a decision on the new consolidated tax system, the source said.

The proposed tax will come at a rate of 3-5%, which will be collected with the investor’s tax filing. This is higher than the average we were previously told about in April, which suggested the additional tax would be around 2-3%, but still well below what amount investors currently pay.

Despite the reduction in fees, the government thinks the new plan could double its annual turnover rate, as the new system will encourage more investment and help projects increase earnings, a government source told us in April.

Direct and indirect taxes and fees combined make up 57% of businesses’ net income, with fees alone representing 20% of the total, according to our source. Investors currently face a 22.5% corporate income tax, a 14% VAT, and an additional 20% in various fees from different government entities, the source noted.

What are these additional fees? They include registration fees, emergency funds for workers, various development and solidarity contributions, a stamp for martyrs’ families, and assorted fees for licenses, registers, and freezones.

Who will oversee the new system? The finance and investment ministries are set to manage the new system and handle administrative processes that include:

The issuance of commercial and industrial registers;
Environmental certificates and civil defence approval;
Importer licences and registration in the chambers of commerce;
Traffic licenses for industrial, commercial, and tourism establishments;
The Labor Ministry’s emergency fund and similar services.

REMEMBER- The government is looking to secure an additional EGP 195.2 bn in tax revenues — equivalent to 0.98% of GDP — in FY 2025-2026 through a bundle of tax reforms, the IMF said last month.

CBE sees growth gaining momentum, inflation averaging 15-16% in latest latest Monetary Policy Report

The Central Bank of Egypt is out with its latest Monetary Policy Report (MPR)(pdf), which delves into Egypt’s economic trajectory and its position amid global economic developments, as well as offers insights and predictions regarding the country’s economic outlook. Here are the key takeaways from the 2Q 2025 report.

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

Before we dive in- The CBE kept interest rates unchanged in its fourth meeting of the year in July, halting its easing cycle, after it cut rates by 225 bps in April and 100 bps in May. This move provided context for the bank’s predictions in the report, tying its decision to some of the key indicators of Egypt’s economy over the past quarter. The report also comes nearly three weeks ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee’s next meeting.

A closer look into 2Q 2025 trends: Annual headline inflation reached an average of 15.2% in the 2Q 2025, which is the lowest quarterly reading since the 3Q 2022. The CBE attributed the dip in inflation to improved exchange rate dynamics and sovereign risk levels beginning to normalize towards the end of the quarter.

ICYMI- Annual headline urban inflation (fell to 14.9% in June, from 16.8% in May, ending an upward trend that extended over three consecutive months.

Inflation outlook: The CBE sees inflation staying near its current level for the rest of this year, before steadily falling next year towards the CBE’s target of 7% (± 2 percentage points) on average in 4Q 2026. The bank slightly revised the baseline and alternative annual headline inflation forecasts from its 1Q 2025 report, now seeing inflation averaging 15-16% in 2025, revised from 14-15%, and 11-12% in 2026, revised from 10-12.5%. The figures are well below the 28.3% inflation average of 2024.

Several factors could impact the inflation outlook: The CBE noted that the inflation outlook remains subject to risks that include “price stickiness of services and retail items,” as well as domestic and global risks that include “uncertainty surrounding trade policies and possible re-escalation of geopolitical tensions.” The CBE noted that normalizing trade policies and easing geopolitical tensions could improve our inflation dynamics.

Our economy has fared well so far this year, with signs of “sustained recovery” in 2Q. The CBE now forecasts the GDP to have grown at 4.8% — the same rate recorded in the previous quarter, boosted by both non-petroleum manufacturing and tourism.

GDP growth is on track to gain momentum, reaching an average of 4.8% this fiscal year and 5.1% in FY 2026-2027, the CBE noted. This is driven by robust performances in key sectors, including extractions, manufacturing, and services.

Zooming in on the Suez Canal: The GDP growth is also expected to be bolstered by a partial recovery in Suez Canal activity, the CBE noted. This rebound depends on the gradual de-escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea, which would allow maritime transport to return to normal. Suez Canal receipts fell 54.1% y-o-y to USD 2.6 bn during the first nine months of the last fiscal year, with net tonnage down 61.9% and vessel transits falling 44.8%.

CBE sees output gap closing, but expresses caution on monetary policy easing: The CBE projects that the negative output gap will narrow, with economic output reaching its potential level by the end of this fiscal year. While demand-side inflation could emerge after this point, it is expected to remain under control with the current monetary policy. However, if the GDP growth accelerates faster than expected, this could increase inflationary risks, which in turn would require a more cautious approach to any further monetary easing.

The country’s external position is becoming stronger, primarily driven by a current account deficit that has shrunk by more than 50% compared to the same quarter in the previous year. This significant improvement is mainly supported by a surge in remittances, growth in net services receipts, and a narrowing non-hydrocarbon deficit.

Money supply dynamics: M2 growth slowed significantly in 2Q 2025, averaging 24.8% compared to 30.6% in the previous quarter. The real growth of local currency loans to the private sector continued its acceleration, reaching an average of 12.6% in 2Q 2025, compared to an average of 10.1% in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, net foreign assets in the country’s banking sector reached USD 14.94 bn in June.

Let’s talk easing cycle and its impact so far: While the CBE began its easing cycle in 2Q, its current monetary stance is still considered appropriate to support the path of disinflation, the report noted. “Around 65%of the cumulative 325 basis points reduction in policy rates during April and May 2025 was transmitted to the interbank market throughout 2Q 2025,” the CBE noted. Yields on EGP-dominated government securities inched down in the second quarter, a modest initial market reaction to the reduction in interest rates. Meanwhile, Egyptian Eurobond yields dropped by an average of 134 basis points in the same period. This is part of a downward trend that started at the beginning of FY 2024-2025, reflecting a boost in investor confidence.

FRA unveils regulatory framework for fractional real estate investment

A framework for fractional real estate investments: The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued a new regulatory framework that sets the stage for fractional ownership of real estate units through real estate investment funds (REIF), according to a statement from the authority.

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

The rationale: The framework aims to regulate and formalize fractional real estate investments, which make real estate investments more accessible.

You need to prove your competence before being approved to invest: Under the regulations, interested investors need to pass a knowledge test approved by the FRA before getting the green light to invest. The test aims to ensure that investors are aware of the associated risks when it comes to fractional real estate investments.

Transparency is the name of the game: Digital platforms through which investors can invest in REIFs are required to disclose updates such as fund issuance data, financial statements, dividends schedules, ins. policies, breaches of investment policies, and any material events related to fund activities.

The framework allows investors to exit before the fund reaches its maturity under certain conditions — including using available cash reserves or attracting new subscriptions to meet redemption requests. However, the total amount of units that can be redeemed is limited to 20% of the fund’s total issued units each year. Once redeemed, these units must either be sold to new investors or cancelled within a year. During this holding period, redeemed units will not hold voting or dividend rights.

Protection for investors: All contracts and investment documents will be electronically archived with FRA-authorized entities, and unit prices will be regularly published — following valuations from FRA-authorized entities as well.

We saw this coming: We heard back in January that the FRA was studying a new regulatory framework that would govern fractional investments in real estate.

More regulatory changes to come? The FRA and Finance Ministry have been weighing amendments to REIF regulations that could make the funds more attractive — including scrapping the 22.5% capital gains tax on property sold to REIFs and loosening a rule requiring funds to invest at least 80% of their portfolios in real estate assets or shares in real estate companies.

The groundwork for REIFs has already been laid, with Azimut and MNT-Halan receiving the green light earlier this year to set up a EGP 250 mn REIF, with plans to expand it to EGP 2 bn over two years. Similarly, Misr Real Estate Assets Management CEO Maha Abdel Razek told EnterpriseAM in February that the company is preparing to launch its first real estate fund soon.

ICYMI- Proptech platforms Nawy, Madinet Masr’s Safe, and operator of the Farida platform Sakr have requested licenses from the FRA in June to set up companies that manage real estate investment funds as well as legal entities that carry out promotion and underwriting services. The platforms had submitted feasibility studies to the FRA and had already begun to adapt their operations to comply with investment fund regulations.

Tech Valley breaks ground on its first two projects worth a combined USD 40 mn

Two Indian factories break ground in Tech Valley: Two Indian-led metal industries manufacturing facilities worth a combined USD 40 mn broke ground in East Ismailia’s Technology Valley yesterday, according to a statement. The two project mark the start of development in the valley.

Project #1: Ferro Genesis is setting up a 35k sqm plant to produce silico-manganese and ferro-silicon from quartz and manganese ore. The factory will be set up in phases, with the first phase seeing USD 15 mn in investment. The project is expected to create 150 direct jobs.

Project #2: Willow Ferro is investing USD 25 mn into the first phase of its 40k sqm plant. The facility will produce ferro-silicon and ferro-chrome during initial operations, with an annual production capacity of 36k tons of silicon manganese products. It is expected to generate 120 direct jobs.

SOUND SMART- All alloys are essential in producing high-grade steel. Silico-manganese can also be used in automotive components and railway tracks, ferro-silicon can be used in the manufacture of semiconductors and magnesium, and ferro-chrome is also used in the refractory industry.

Tech Valley? Located on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal in East Qantara, Tech Valley spans 70 sq km and is positioned as a next-generation industrial and R&D hub, according to the SCZone’s website. The area is being primed for advanced manufacturing, smart technologies, clean energy, scientific research, logistics, and higher education, according to the SCZone’s Utilities website.

More in the SCZone pipeline: The Qantara West Industrial Zone will see a number of projects go online next month, SCZone head Walid Gamal El Din said.

PLUS- More investment heading to Ismailia: Nine Chinese and Turkish companies are investing a combined USD 41.6 mn in the Ismailia Public Freezone, according to a statement. The projects span a variety of sectors, including textile, ready-made garments, athletic protective gear, and parts for heating and plumbing devices. The projects are expected to create some 16k direct jobs, with production slated to begin in 2026.

Egypt wants more local involvement in oil and gas

The Madbouly government is looking to boost local investment in the oil and gas sector in efforts to restore production to previous levels, a government source told EnterpriseAM. The government is weighing fresh incentives for local investors, the source added.

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

Local companies are set to take part in an upcoming Oil Ministry tender, covering new fields and fresh exploration areas — including blocks being offered for the first time — as well as mature fields slated to be put back on the market.

We have an idea which companies will be involved: A Hassan Allam Holding-Infinity Power consortium, Ezz Steel, Elsewedy Industrial Development, and Ades Holding last year inked agreements to ramp up oil and natural gas exploration alongside production and field development. The players will establish specialist subsidiaries to operate in upstream oil and gas.

On the foreign side: Egypt has launched an international tender for seismic survey companies to carry out advanced mapping over 100k sqm in the East Mediterranean, as part of efforts to assess gas reserves and accelerate new discoveries, Asharq Business reports citing an unnamed government source

The government will not cover the cost of the surveys. Instead, the companies awarded the contracts will recover costs by charging international oil and gas firms for access to the survey data packages, seeing as they are interested in exploration and drilling. Under the tender, more than a single company will be selected, with the target area split into defined blocks to be scanned according to a fixed schedule to speed up the timeline, they said.

Small and mid-sized players stand to benefit the most from the survey, the source said, adding that the new data will open up fresh exploration windows in the East Med without requiring them to bear the full cost of seismic work. “Companies will save at least 60% of the cost of conducting their own seismic surveys,” they added.

The East Med is Egypt’s most productive natural gas region, accounting for 62% of output, followed by the Nile Delta at 19% and the Western Desert at 18%, Asharq said, citing Oil Ministry data. Some 20 companies currently operate in the East Med.

Infinity Power to set up two solar projects in the Ivoirian market

RENEWABLES-

Infinity Power ink agreements for landmark solar projects in Côte d'Ivoire: Our friends at Infinity Power have signed two concession agreements with the government of Côte d'Ivoire to build two solar plants with a total capacity of 80 MW in Touba and Laboa, the company said in a press release (pdf). The agreements, part of the World Bank’s Scaling Solar initiative, mark Infinity Power’s first collaboration with Côte d'Ivoire and are set to supply electricity to over 400k people. The projects also include the construction of 17 km of transmission lines to connect the plants to the national grid.

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

What they said: “Being entrusted with projects of this importance demonstrates our ability to deliver on Africa’s energy potential. These solar plants will not just bring affordable electricity to hundreds of thousands of people but will also empower communities, strengthen infrastructure, and accelerate the country’s progress toward a decarbonised future, ” said Chairman Mohamed Mansour.

M&A-

Middle East Glass Manufacturing’s board approved the merging of three of its subsidiaries into the company, the company said in a disclosure (pdf) to the EGX. The proposal to absorb Misr Glass Manufacturing, MEG Misr for Glass, and Middle East Glass Containers-Sadat will be presented to the general assembly for approval.

REAL ESTATE-

Madinet Masr launched its EGP 90 bn New Heliopolis development Talala, the local real estate player said in a st atement (pdf ). The development is expected to bring in EGP 202 bn in sales, with units delivered within 4 and a half years.

What they said: “The project reflects Madinet Masr’s strategy in building integrated and sustainable urban communities according to the highest standards of quality and luxury,” said CEO Abdallah Sallam.

across several sectors in the local market, according to an EGX disclosure (pdf).

EDUCATION-

Five new applied tech schools for pharma industry incoming: The government will establish five applied technology schools specialized in pharma and healthcare under a new cooperation protocol signed yesterday by the health and education ministries, the Egyptian Drug Authority, and an Italian pharma tech school, according to a statement. The schools — set to open their doors in the 2025-2026 academic year — will offer dual certifications combining local technical diplomas and international training credentials.

DEBT-

Raya Holding For Financial Investments’ subsidiary Raya Integration has secured a EGP 1 bn integrated credit facility from Midbank, which will be used to fund its growth plans, in addition to supporting its digital transformation and technological efforts

Falling business investment could weigh on global growth, says OECD

Is a drop in business investment across OECD nations signaling a threat for global growth? The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released a study looking into Understanding the Weakness in Business Investment (pdf) through a cross-country analysis, revealing that a weak investment trend across the 38 member nations of the OECD is contributing to weak global productivity growth.

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

After the global financial crisis of 2008, fixed investment fell sharply across many countries, especially those of the more developed OECD nations, with the ensuing recovery proving relatively modest, the report explains. Real business investment remains 23% below its pre-crisis trend, with only Israel and Portugal, out of 34 advanced economies the OECD tracked, having recovered and surpassed their pre-financial crisis net investment trajectories.

Insufficient aggregate demand and increased economic uncertainty appear to be the leading factors behind this shortfall, while more structural factors — most importantly the rising importance of intangible assets — are also linked to this lack of recovery, the OECD study explains. The recovery of the business investment environment was further muted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifts in corporate strategies — such as greater financialisation and prioritizing shareholder returns over capital expenditures — have also been linked to falling investment levels, the study shows. Meanwhile, the unpredictable rollout of Trump’s tariffs has further discouraged corporations from committing to significant spending plans.

How is this impacting global growth? If corporate spending on new projects and facilities does not pick up, countries will “not be able to sustain growth,” outgoing chief economist at OECD Álvaro Pereira told the Financial Times.

While no Arab nation is a member of the OECD, a drop in business investment still affects the region given the trade pacts and investment agreements between the two sides, so much of the OECD’s conclusions may impact us as well.

The OECD’s survey recommends a comprehensive set of policies to address the weakness in business investment. Key priorities include “reducing uncertainty through transparent, rules-based trade, tax, and regulatory frameworks, and tackling structural barriers to investment by enhancing competition, reducing regulatory burdens, addressing skills shortages and alleviating financing constraints” the organization said.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are in the green in early trading this morning — Japan’s Nikkei is leading the gains, up 0.9%. The Shanghai Composite, Hang Seng, and the Kospi also started off the day higher.

EGX30	35,480	+0.6% (YTD: +19.3%)
USD (CBE)	Buy 48.39	Sell 48.52
USD (CIB)	Buy 48.40	Sell 48.50
Interest rates (CBE)	24.00% deposit	25.00% lending
Tadawul	10,947	+0.2% (YTD: -9.1%)
ADX	10,330	0.0% (YTD: +9.7%)
DFM	6,156	-0.2% (YTD: +19.3%)
S&P 500	6,345	+0.7% (YTD: +7.9%)
FTSE 100	9,164	+0.2% (YTD: +12.1%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,263	+0.3% (YTD: +7.5%)
Brent crude	USD 66.89	-1.1%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.09	+0.4%
Gold	USD 3,433	0.0%
BTC	USD 115,024	+0.8% (YTD: +22.9%)
S&P Egypt Sovereign Bond Index	883.81	-0.1% (YTD: +13.7%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	147.82	+0.2% (YTD: +5.6%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	16.77	-6.1% (YTD: -3.3%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The EGX30 rose 0.6% at yesterday’s close on turnover of EGP 5.2 bn (1.7% above the 90-day average). Local investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 19.3% YTD.

In the green: Telecom Egypt (+4.8%), Raya Holding (+2.2%), and Fawry (+2.0%).

In the red: Misr Cement (-9.5%), Beltone Holding (-3.4%), and GB Corp (-2.4%).

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Orascom Construction will pay out a dividend of EGP 12.23 per share for its 1Q 2025 earnings, according to an EGX disclosure (pdf). The payout is scheduled for 13 August.

My Morning Routine: Chris Abboud, general manager of Beyti

Chris Abboud, general manager of Beyti — an Almarai Subsidiary: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is the general manager of Almarai’s Beyti Chris Abboud (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Chris Abboud, and I’m the general manager of Beyti, an Almarai subsidiary, and one of Egypt’s leading dairy and juice companies. I lead a team of 6k passionate employees who work to deliver high-quality products to consumers in Egypt and abroad, as we export to nearly 45 countries. We operate two major factories in Al Nubaria and produce more than 100 products. We sell 2 bn units a year — about 6 mn a day — reaching over 86 mn consumers across 110k points of sale through 33 distribution centers. Our average market share is around 30%.

I’m passionate about building organizations that create shared value across the entire value chain, while championing homegrown talent and advancing excellence in Egypt’s food and beverage sector.

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

As a general manager, I oversee the full operation at Beyti. We call our approach “from grass to glass,” which means I’m responsible for everything across the value chain — from sourcing and production to distribution and sales. My key responsibilities include setting a clear, focused, and winning strategy that aligns with our core purpose of “nourishing Egypt’s families with every sip and spoon.” I’m also responsible for ensuring we deliver on our brand promise — “quality you can trust” — for both Egyptian families and our global consumers.

In my day-to-day, I focus on driving long-term sustainable growth. While that’s a shared responsibility across our leadership team, I see my role as empowering the organization — removing roadblocks, aligning on success, and helping people unlock their full potential. Equally important is ensuring we live our six core values — family, courage, respect, ownership, collaboration, and innovation. These values aren’t just theoretical, they guide how we operate, make decisions, and treat one another.

We’ve come a long way since our founding in 1998. Over the past 26 years, we’ve become one of Egypt’s leading food and beverage companies, trusted by mns of Egyptian families thanks to consistent quality and care. As part of Almarai, we benefit from world-class food safety practices and global innovations, which we localize to meet the needs and expectations of our Egyptian consumers. Our mission is to contribute to Egypt’s food security by producing high-quality dairy and juice products, supporting sustainable agriculture, and investing in people and communities throughout our value chain. That includes empowering local farmers, ensuring safe and nutritious food reaches every table, and building resilient local supply chains.

For example, our Beyti Academy has trained 167 farms across 27 programs, delivered over 1k hours of training, and made 1k+ field visits. Through our El Kasseeb initiative, we’ve trained more than 420 young people to distribute Beyti products in 21 governorates, with plans to double that figure in the next three years. Our Future Leaders program helps us groom talent across manufacturing, sales, and corporate roles.

There are several key trends shaping our industry right now. One is the growing consumer appetite for natural ingredients, clean labels, functional health claims, and most importantly, brands with purpose. Sustainability is also becoming non-negotiable. Consumers now expect brands to demonstrate clear and meaningful commitments to environmental and social responsibility. Our sustainability strategy is built around the “Three Ps” — people, planet, and products. Every day, we take small steps to improve across these areas.

An example of this is that, Beyti operates one of the largest solar power stations connected to the grid in Egypt’s food and beverage sector, generating 7.6 MW and covering 20-30% of our factory’s energy needs. We also contributed EGP 40 mn to establish Beheira’s first industrial gas pressure reduction station, which enabled seven factories to switch to cleaner natural gas, cutting their emissions by 30%. As for water efficiency, we operate the largest wastewater treatment plant in Egypt’s dairy and juice sector, with a capacity of 3.2k cbm per day. For our packaging, we’ve avoided producing 290 tons of plastic waste annually since 2022 and recycled over 20k tons of secondary packaging each year. We also localized 67% of our raw and packaging materials to support the local economy. We don’t want to just follow trends, but help shape what responsible consumption looks like in Egypt and beyond it.

Efficiency and local sourcing are key when it comes to inflation and supply chain pressures. We’ve prioritized using local materials and we’ve invested heavily in planning, digital systems, and process innovation. Resilience isn’t built overnight — it’s about long-term thinking. Our bigger mission is to support Egypt’s food security — through high-quality production, sustainable agriculture, and empowering people across the value chain.

I wake up at 6am and head to the gym at around 6:20am. That’s when I usually read EnterpriseAM — as soon as it lands in my inbox — to catch up with the latest news. I spend around an hour-and-a-half at the gym to energize before heading to work. Once I’m in the office, most of my time is spent in team check-ins, strategic reviews, and problem-solving meetings.

Every other week, I visit one of the company’s 33 distribution depots to stay in touch with on-the-ground teams. I also have to visit our factories at least monthly to engage directly with our operations teams. Market visits are non-negotiable for me — they’re how I stay connected to what our consumers are seeing and feeling.

The one constant in my routine is the early gym session and the EnterpriseAM read — it’s how I clear my head and get ready to lead. From there, it’s about staying connected with my teams and making space for open communication and problem-solving.

When it comes to staying focused and organized, I try to delegate. I trust my team. I focus on setting the vision and enabling others to execute. I set priorities, hold structured check-ins, and rely on a rhythm of site visits and reviews. But I’m also flexible — I listen, adapt, and shift based on what the moment demands.

We’re entering a new expansion phase at Beyti. We already hold a 30% market share, but we’re aiming to scale further. We’re expanding across new categories and segments, with a projected 20-25% growth rate over the coming years. We’ve lined up over EGP 7 bn in investments, and I see this as an opportunity to cement our role as a benchmark for sustainability, innovation, and people-first leadership in Egypt’s F&B space.

I think of work-life balance as a long-term discipline. The line between work and personal life can blur in leadership roles, but I’ve learned that real balance comes from setting the right priorities. At Beyti, we implemented this idea, where we introduced paternity leave, opened an on-site nursery, and created a culture where mental health and flexibility are seen as enablers of productivity, not trade-offs.

When I need to unplug, I spend time with my wife and two kids — my son’s almost 20 and my daughter is 18. We love traveling together, or just hanging out. When I’m on my own, I’ll go for a walk or run, or read something non-work-related to reset.

There are several books I have read that have stuck with me and overall changed my perception. Among these books, which I highly recommend, are Mindset by Carol Dweck, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Some podcasts I would recommend include Leadership Next — a look at how modern CEOs are redefining business leadership — and Meet the Leader — conversations with global changemakers from the World Economic Forum.

The best advice I’ve ever received is “magic happens outside your comfort zone.” That stuck with me early in my career and I still live by it. Also, I learned that as a leader, I don’t need all the answers, but I do need to ask the right questions.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

7 August (Thursday): Finance Ministry to begin disbursement of 50% of exporters’ pre-June 2024 dues over a four-year plan.

8 August (Friday): Capmas expected to release inflation data for July.

12 August (Tuesday): Egyptian Tax Authority deadline for pre-2020 tax dispute settlement requests.

12 August (Tuesday): Capmas expected to release unemployment data for 2Q 2025.

12 August (Tuesday): National Election Authority to announce Senate election results.

28 August (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

Mid-August: Launch of electronic platform to register Old Rent Law tenants.

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

Late-August: Deadline for cement factories to restart production.

SEPTEMBER

8-11 September (Monday-Thursday): EFG Hermes London Conference takes place in the British capital.

9-11 September (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Exhibition for Paper, Corrugated Board, Paperboard and Tissue Paper Industries — PAPER-ME — takes place at the Egypt International Exhibition Center.

15 September (Monday): IMF to hold its combined fifth and sixth reviews of Egypt’s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement.

24-27 September (Wednesday-Saturday): Cityscape Egypt 2025, Egypt International Exhibition Center.

The Egyptian-Moroccan Business Council to send a delegation of 23 local companies to Rabat.

The Engineering Export Council of Egypt will ship a commercial delegation to Russia to ramp up exports to European markets.

Egypt Education Platform (EEP) to launch two new schools in Alexandria and Somabay.

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

7 October (Tuesday): The 2025 EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum.

12-16 October (Sunday-Thursday): Cairo Water Week, Cairo.

19-22 October (Sunday-Wednesday): Arab African Investment and International Cooperation Summit.

23-25 October (Thursday-Saturday): Stone Africa Expo, Cairo International Conference Center.

October: The third iteration of the Export Smart Exhibition and Conference.

Mid-October: Capmas to publish the findings of its 2023-2024 income and expenditure survey.

NOVEMBER

16-19 November: Cairo ICT 2025, Egypt International Exhibition Center

20 November (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

November: Egypt to join the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program.

DECEMBER

1-4 December: Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX), Egypt International Exhibition Center.

25 December: (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

Mid-2025: EGX launches sustainability index.

3Q 2025: Nasr Automotive begins locally manufacturing passenger cars.

3Q 2025: Polaris Parks to finalize contracts for two new industrial zones in the new capital and Sadat City.

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

2H 2025: Potential visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Egypt

4Q 2025: The beginning of construction works on China’s State Grid two solar projects.

4Q 2025: GB Auto starts assembling one of China’s Great Wall Motor models in 4Q 2025.

4Q 2025-1Q 2026: Kasrawy Group to launch first Avatr EV models in Egypt.

2025: The InterAcademy Partnership assembly.

2025: Nile Basin States Summit, Cairo, Egypt.

2025: Release of the government’s Startup Charter document.

Before 2025-end: The government will launch two ro-ro shipping lines with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

2026

Early 2026: Passenger operations on the New Administrative Capital–Nasr City monorail scheduled to begin.

1Q 2026: Trial operations for the Ain Sokhna–Sixth of October section of Egypt’s first high-speed rail line scheduled to begin.

1 January: European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to fully come into effect.

15 March 2026: IMF to hold its seventh review of Egypt’s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement.

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

15 September 2026: IMF to hold its eighth review of Egypt’s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement.

2H 2026: Operations at Deli Glass Co’s new USD 70 mn glassware factory kick off.

2027

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

April 2027: Tenth of Ramadan dry port and logistics hub to begin operations.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2027: Egypt to host EBRD’s annual meetings for 2027.

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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