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Friday, 29 Mar 2024

The Week In Review
The Enterprise Guide
What Are You Up To This Weekend?
Pass The Controller
What To Listen To
The Enterprise Entertainment Calendar

Got kahk?

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Today at a glance

1

THE ENTERPRISE GUIDE

Get your kahk game on.
2

Last Week in 3 Minutes

IMF executive board to vote on Egypt’s program today.
3

Last Week in 3 Minutes

Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison.
4

From the Bookstore

Not everything is what it seems in The Sundown Motel.
5

Hot and Fresh Out of the Kitchen

Iftar and suhoor with a view at Zeeyara.
6

PASS THE CONTROLLER

The horror sequel you have been itching to play.
7

Listen to This

Find the better version of yourself with the Tony Robbins podcast.

Friday, 29 Mar 2024

The Week In Review
The Enterprise Guide
What Are You Up To This Weekend?
Pass The Controller
What To Listen To
The Enterprise Entertainment Calendar
1

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

IMF Executive board talks Egypt today

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and happy Friday. We have reached the tail-end of Ramadan, which means newscycle slowdown, and, of course, the reappearance of the Eid kahk.

Where does one begin when it comes to these sugary biscuits? You begin with us, of course. We have tried a wide selection of kakh — and widened our waistlines so that you don’t have to — and reached the ultimate list of the best kahk for Ramadan 2024.

So, when do we eat? Maghrib prayers are at 6:12 pm in the capital city, and you’ll have until 4:19 am tomorrow to hydrate and caffeinate ahead of fajr. For tomorrow, maghrib prayers are at 6:13 pm, and you can hydrate and caffeinate until 4:17 am.

Enterprise Weekend comes out each Friday at 9:00am CLT. We’ll be back on Sunday at 6am with EnterpriseAM. Until then: Enjoy the weekend.

THE WEEK IN 3 MINS-

ECONOMY-

The IMF Executive Board is set to vote today on the first and the second reviews of Egypt’s loan program under the extended USD 8 bn arrangement.

INVESTMENT-

#1- Turkey’s Doğuş eyes USD 7 bn logistics and industrial zone in Egypt’s Gargoub: Turkish firm Doğuş Construction and Trade has signed an MoU with the transport ministry’s Egyptian Group For Multipurpose Terminals to establish an industrial and logistics zone in Gargoub on the country’s northwest coast with over USD 7 bn in estimated investment. The project plans to establish a commercial port in addition to logistics and free zones, which will all be linked to the railway network, a freight station, a yacht marina, a multipurpose terminal, and an industrial zone.

#2- Egypt signed three separate industrial investment agreements on Wednesday. The agreements include:

  • Silo design + manufacturing: An agreement between East Port Said Development and Feerum Egypt allocating land for an EGP 1.6 bn factory in the East Port Said zone to design, manufacture, and establish silos and their components.
  • EUR 160 mn glass factory: The Suez Canal Economic Zone also signed an agreement with Saint-Gobain Glass Egypt to establish a EUR 160 mn glass factory in the Ain Sokhna industrial zone.
  • Ductile Iron Pipes factory: China’s Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Company also signed an agreement with the SCZone that will grant the Chinese company the right to use a 270k sqm plot of land in the TEDA industrial park to set up a ductile iron pipe factory. The project includes manufacturing 250k tonnes of cast iron pipes per year, with USD 146 mn in investments.

M&A-

Mubadala acquires full stake in Adwia’s parent company Kelix bio: Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala fully acquired pan-African biopharma platform Kelix bio. The selling partners in the acquisition of Kelix bio include its co-founders Development Partners International (DPI), the UK government’s British International Investment (BII), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The acquisition is still pending regulatory approval.

Kelix bio is no stranger to Egypt: The selling parties established Kelix bio in November 2020 with an initial investment commitment of USD 250 mn, a few days after they poured USD 126 mn to acquire 99.6% of Adwia — one of the leading generic pharma companies in Egypt, exporting to the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

IPO-

Act Financial eyes EGP 1 bn IPO: Investment management firm Act Financial reportedly plans to offer a minority stake worth EGP 1 bn in its long-awaited EGX debut. The company filed a temporary listing request with the EGX earlier this week and is awaiting the listing committee’s approval, according to media reports. Act Financial reportedly aims to raise the whole amount through a capital increase, without the exit of any existing shareholders. The exact size of the stake to be offered will be determined once Fact — the independent financial advisor on the transaction — concludes its studies within days.

COMMODITIES-

The war on commodity prices continues: The government has directed local manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to slash commodity prices by up to 30% over a series of meetings between the Supply Ministry, the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, and the Federation of Egyptian Industries, a cabinet statement said. Some businesses have started to reduce prices by 15-20% this week as they work to gradually ramp up the price cuts to 30% following the Eid Al Fitr holiday.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

#1- President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will officially begin his third term when he takes the constitutional oath before the House of Representatives in the new administrative capital.

#2- FY 2024-25 draft budget to head to the House: The draft of the state budget and the first ever Public Government Budget for the next fiscal year will be presented to the House on Sunday after they were greenlit by cabinet yesterday, according to a cabinet statement.

AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS-

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud and conspiracy — a more lenient sentence than the five decades prosecutors had been angling for. The US court handed him his sentence after finding Bankman-Fried’s defense to be unfounded and after he was found to have lied in court. He also promised to appeal the sentence in court.

🌤️THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- The warm weather continues today with the possibility of light rain in Cairo, with a high of 27°C and a low of 19°C. The sky will be clear and sunny on Saturday with a high of 28°C and a low of 17°C, according to our favorite weather app.

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND-

Enjoy suhoor with Hisham Abbas at Galleria40. The 3al Tawla suhoor tent is hosting the superstar this Friday, 29 March. You can find booking information on their Facebook page here.

Mustafa Amar is making an appearance at HydeOut. Patrons of the Hekayatna Helwa Ramadan tent at HydeOut can enjoy Suhoor with live music from the famed singer on Friday, March 29 starting 10pm. Grab a seat or a table from TicketsMarche. Tuck the kids into bed before you go.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND-

Bibliothek is bringing back the cultural salon. On Friday, April 5, Bibliothek will be hosting El Warsha band as part of an evening that will contain songs, stories, and sketches. Experience Sufi ballads, Chekov’s parables, and music from the roaring 20’s. More details can be found here.

Experience the captivating Melvevi whirling dervish performance at Royal Park Mall. This performance will take you on a spiritual journey led by dervish Hussein Suleiman on Friday, April 5, or Saturday, April 6. Seating ranges from EGP 250 to EGP 2.5k. Booking information can be found here.

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2

THE ENTERPRISE GUIDE

Your guide to the upcoming Eid’s kahk

It may be too early to wish you Eid Mubarak, but it’s not too early to get your kahk orders in. The kahk game is as strong as ever this year, and people are already stocking up on the best in town — don’t get caught empty-handed by the time Eid rolls in.

Wondering where you can find the best kahk in the biz? We taste-tested kahk from a dozen different spots to rank the top contenders.

Here are our top 7:

#7- Granville St.: This one’s for our healthy homies. Made with all-natural ingredients, this is a great option if you’re looking to indulge responsibly. Because the kahk is made with organic ingredients, it doesn’t taste like traditional kahk — they taste more like coconut macaroons.

The kahk comes in three flavors, plain, walnut date, and Belgian dark chocolate. The dark chocolate complements the taste of the almond flour and coconut butter the best, but the walnut date filling is to die for. Our one issue is that the kahk doesn’t come with powdered sugar, though we’re sure it was a conscious, health-driven choice.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can order Granville St.’s boxes from Gourmet, with prices ranging from EGP 270 to EGP 395.

#6- Salé Sucré: The texture and taste of the kahk at Salé Sucré is by-the-book. The sweetness of the kahk is well-balanced, but fans of generous filling may have to look elsewhere. You can find kahk stuffed with agameyya, agwa, goz, malban, and a agameyya goz combo, as well as plain.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can place your order on Salé Sucré’s website, or visit any of their branches to pick up a box or two, which will set you back EGP 360-440 for 0.8 kg each.

#5- Choco Chocola: No, you didn’t accidentally walk into a jewelry store. Choco Chocola is the place to go if you’re looking to impress — this isn’t a box you buy to keep at home. Their elaborate boxes make the perfect gift, and the great taste is the cherry on top.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can visit any of Choco Chocola’s many branches to take your pick, but you better hurry. The price of 1 kg of their plain kahk is EGP 1,165 and many are reserving theirs days in advance.

#4- Tortina: Tortina may not be your traditional pick for Eid goodies, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t give them a chance. The taste and texture of their kahk is perfect, and we enjoyed their variety. Our only comment would be that the agameyya kahk may be a little sweet for some. On the flip side, you can customize your boxes to whichever size you want. Go big or go home, but if you’re going home, do so with their 0.25 kg kahk box.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can order off of Tortina’s website, or visit any of their branches. Prices range from EGP 105 to EGP 545.

#3- Gourmet: Gourmet’s kahk is aptly named. Made with premium ingredients, you can’t go wrong with this pick. Flavors are limited, but they cover the basics…

…but what we can’t get enough of (quite literally) is Gourmet’s kahk pops. These bite-sized balls of kahk are as dangerous as they are delicious — it’s easy to get carried away and finish the whole tin in one sitting.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can order these 0.5 kg tins for a price range of EGP 275-299 from Gourmet’s website, or you can visit any of their branches to pick them up in person.

#2- Tasty Bites: This little bakery in Obour was a surprisingly strong contender. Tasty Bites doesn’t shy away from being generous with the kahk aroma and the toasted sesame, making their offerings buttery soft, and flavor-heavy.

You can find whichever flavor of kahk you prefer — plain, with Turkish Delights, agameyya, agwa, and walnut. Plain is an OG that’s hard to beat, but the Turkish Delights and agameyya are by-the-book. The order comes with a generous helping of powdered sugar.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can order off of their Facebook page, or through the contact info provided there.

#1- Miracle: We almost want to gatekeep this one, but not sharing something this good must qualify as a crime of some kind. Looks can be deceiving — walking into Miracle doesn’t feel like walking into a bakery, but what they lack in packaging they more than make up for in craftsmanship.

WHERE TO GET IT- Tucked away in Agouza, Miracle is the place to go if you want the perfect box of kahk — just promise to leave some for the rest of us. Prices range from EGP 525 for the kilo to EGP 735 — but you can also order just half in case you want to have room to try different flavors.

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3

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THIS WEEKEND?

Iftar and suhoor with a view at Zeeyara. Plus: Not everything is what it seems in The Sundown Motel

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Imagine having iftar and suhoor with a view that whispers of history. At Zeeyara, the only hard decision you have to make is whether you’d like to dine on a rooftop with a gorgeous view of the glowing El Moez Street, or whether you prefer a breathtaking panorama of the Pyramids.

Break your fast with these starters: Of the seven dishes being served, which include hummus, baladi salad, olives, pickled lemon, and molokheyya, our absolute favorite options were the rocca salad and the camel meatballs. The rocca salad is seasoned with lemon, olive oil, and salt and pepper, and has small mouthwatering bites of basterma throughout. The camel meatballs are sauteed in garlic butter, and are melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Remember to pace yourself or you won’t have enough space for the main course. After your choice of lentil or orzo soup, you can treat yourself to duck, stuffed chicken, mixed grill, or Zeeyara’s signature Ouzy dish. The Ouzy consists of tender lamb on a bed of rice, mixed nuts, green peas, raisins, and cinnamon. If you get hooked, don’t worry, this dish is available after the Holy Month too.

What’s iftar without dessert? We’ll save you the hassle of decision-making: Order the Zeeyara pie, and have another member of your party order the Rozo. The Zeeyara pie is a maamoul-like pastry stuffed with cream. It’s not overly sweet, which helps bypass the inevitable iftar sugar coma. The Rozo is a brilliant spin on rice pudding, containing coconut, orange zest, and cinnamon. Tea and traditional Ramadan drinks will be served alongside the dishes.

The set menu is a bit stricter for suhoor, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just as good. You can have your pick of ful cooked with olive oil, butter, or prepared Alexandrian-style, and falafel with sesame. Whether you pick vegetables, cheese, or butter with your eggs, you’ll get a healthy serving of veggies and roasted potatoes on the side. Top it off with some white cheese mixed with tomato and olive oil alongside some yogurt to keep you full the next day.

💵 Per person: EGP 420 for Suhoor, EGP 1.5k for Iftar — without service charges, VAT, and taxes

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Small towns with big secrets: In The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James, a little town in upstate New York, back in the 80s seems normal on the outside. But secrets are lurking at the motel, whether from the locals or the travelers just passing through.

Viv Delaney sees it all. Working as the night clerk at the motel, she’s observed some weird things happening. Trying to save up enough money to move to the big city — but these secrets and the urge to uncover them keep her around for a little while longer. It turns out, that decades before, her aunt befell the same fate, and The Sundown Motel alternates between their perspectives moving from flashback to present time.

A blend of all things spooky: The book is a big mash of genres with mystery, horror, thriller, and a sprinkle of the paranormal. St. James successfully develops a creepy text that will send shivers down your spine and make you wary of all the oddball characters thrown into the mix. She does a great job developing the eerie atmosphere and carries that throughout, never leaving you comfortable for too long.

You can find the book onAmazon.

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From OUR FAMILY to YOURS
From OUR FAMILY to YOURS
4

PASS THE CONTROLLER

We’ve been waiting for this horror survival sequel for a decade

Sons of the Forest is deeply compelling and deeply terrifying. This horror survival game is a sequel to The Forest, which came out exactly a decade ago. Like the predecessor, Sons of the Forest delivers an immersive experience with stunning visuals, a large map (SOTF’s is 4x larger), and an open world that gives you the freedom to explore as you wish. But survival isn’t just about finding something to eat. It’s also about not getting eaten.

Once again, you are stranded on a beautiful lush island… inhabited by cannibals. It’s hard not to appreciate the view even when we’re running away from a six-foot-tall fellow whose intentions include you on a grill. And the cannibals are no slouches. Forget the slow-paced zombies who attack without strategy — these antagonists will stalk you, hunt you, and use your intestines as decoration.

Fans of crafting have a lot to look forward to, but those looking for a complicated storyline won’t. Any weapon, tool, or shelter you need has to be made. Though you do have a bit of assistance — no spoilers. We would be more upset about the lack of narrative if we weren’t so preoccupied with constant survival — though maybe that’s the point. There is no overarching plot, you just have to stay alive long enough to figure out what’s going on.

💯 Rating: 9/10 on Steam.

⌛ Hours of gameplay:20 hours for main story and sidequests, 45 hours for 100%.

👾 Platforms: Steam for PC.

💵 Price: USD 14.99

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5

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

The Tony Robbins podcast is here to inspire you to be the better version of yourself

Want to know how to unleash your greatest potential?The Tony Robbins Podcast is a beacon of motivation and personal development in the podcasting world. Hosted by renowned life coach and bestselling author Tony Robbins.

How does he do it? He shares a blend of practical wisdom, inspirational stories, and actionable advice for achieving success in every area of life. From mastering your mindset to building wealth, improving relationships, and enhancing your health, he’ll cover a wide range of topics designed to empower listeners to take their lives to the next level.

His lineup of guests are some of the most influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts in their fields: Whether it’s a conversation with a bn’aire business mogul, a world-renowned psychologist, or a celebrated athlete.

If it’s not for motivation the podcast serves as a guiding light, providing clarity, focus, and actionable strategies for achieving greatness. Whether you’re a self-help enthusiast or new to the world of personal development, this podcast is a valuable resource for anyone committed to living their best life.

You can listen on Apple Podcasts,YouTube,Spotify,Anghami, and Podbean.

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THE ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

29 March (Friday): 3al Tawla with Hisham Abbas at Galleria40.

29 March (Friday): Advanced Gear Talks: The Impact of Lighting in Advertising by Shutter Shop.

29 March (Friday): Ishteri Menni El Helw Ba3d El Fitar standup comedy show at Elsawy Culturewheel.

29 March (Friday): Rula Zaki performance at The Drive.

29 March (Friday): Looperia Project at Makan.

29 March (Friday): Kayf Bada2at Al Bakasa comedy performance at Rawabet Art Space.

29 March (Friday): Ride and Iftar by Yalla 3agala.

29 March (Friday): Khan Majarrah x Egyptian Project in Sheikh Zayed.

29 March (Friday): Hekayatna Helwa ft. Mustafa Amar at HydeOut.

29-31 March (Friday-Sunday): Ramadan Raid by Arabhardware at The GrEEK Campus.

30 March (Saturday): Monologue Fikri standup comedy show at Elsawy Culturewheel.

30 March (Saturday): Flamenca musical experience at ROOM Garden City.

30 March (Saturday): Kayf Bada2at Al Bakasa comedy performance at Rawabet Art Space.

31 March (Sunday): Medhat Salah concert at Cairo Opera House.

31 March (Sunday): No Time Lost performance at Rawabet Art Space.

APRIL

1 April (Monday): Fi El Leila El Kebira performance at Rawabet Art Space.

2 April (Tuesday): Folkloric Night at Rawabet Art Space.

4 April (Thursday): Sarah Morgan performance at The Drive.

4 April (Thursday): Red Sea Heritage Musical performance at ROOM Garden City.

4 April (Thursday): Qahrawya’s Iftour in Desert of the Mamluks.

5 April (Friday): Sufi dance performance at Dawar Arts.

5 April (Friday): Amar Al Din musical performance by Al Warsha band at Bibliothek Egypt.

5 April (Friday): Iftar at Wadi Degla with VAMOS.

5 April (Friday): Evodia performance at The Drive.

5 April (Friday): Sufi Dance Performance at Dawar Arts.

5-6 April (Friday-Saturday): Mevlevi Night at Royal Park.

6 April (Saturday): Sufi singing with Mostafa Mohalel at ROOM New Cairo.

9 April (Tuesday): Eid El Fitr (TBC).

10 April (Wednesday): Amr Diab concert at Cubix El Gouna.

11 April (Thursday): Om Kalthoum puppet theater performance at Elsawy Culturewheel.

12 April (Friday): Amr Hassan concert at Elsawy Culturewheel.

19 April (Friday): Keinmusik at the Giza Pyramids by Panorama 2.

20 April-June 8 (Saturday-Saturday): Sketching Course at Art Square Academy.

23-24 April (Tuesday-Wednesday): Omar Khairat concert at Cairo Opera House.

25 April (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Sinai Liberation Day (TBC).

25-27 April (Thursday-Saturday): Insomnia Egypt Gaming Festival at the International Exhibitions Center.

MAY

1 May (Wednesday): National holiday in observance of Labor Day (TBC).

3 May (Friday): Youth to Business (Y2B) event at The GrEEK Campus.

5 May (Sunday): Coptic Easter.

6 May (Monday): Sham El Nessim (TBC).

23-25 May (Thursday-Saturday): The Design Show at Cairo International Conventions Center.

25 May (Saturday): Techne Summit at the Cairo International Stadium.

JUNE

15-19 June (Saturday-Wednesday): Eid El Adha (TBC).

30 June (Sunday): June 30 Revolution Day (TBC).

JULY

7 July (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Islamic New Year (TBC).

23 July (Tuesday): Revolution Day (TBC).

SEPTEMBER

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

OCTOBER

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2023: The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Q1 2024: Opening of the newly developed Pyramids Plateau in Giza.

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