{"id":560963,"date":"2021-03-21T04:09:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T04:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=560963"},"modified":"2025-12-16T03:06:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T03:06:56","slug":"central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/","title":{"rendered":"Central bank leaves interest rates on hold"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"560965\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560965\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">What We're Tracking Today<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-were-tracking-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                            What we\u2019re tracking on 21 March 2021                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-were-tracking-on-21-march-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> 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href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=What+we%E2%80%99re+tracking+on+21+March+2021+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fwhat-were-tracking-on-21-march-2021%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-were-tracking-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560965\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560965 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-what-were-tracking-today tag-covid-19 tag-enterpriseam tag-japan tag-sports tag-what-were-tracking-today wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<aside>\t\t\t<div\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"newspack-popup-container newspack-popup hidden  newspack-inline-popup  newspack-lightbox-no-border   \"\r\n\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#000\"\r\n\t\t\t\tid=\"id_27645\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-segments=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-frequency=\"0,0,0,month\"\r\n\t\t\t>\r\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ef38739e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94bc23d7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"f-graphik\" style=\"font-size:14px\">Together with<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/resources.inktankir.com\/internal\/27482.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27482\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p><strong>Good morning, friends, and welcome to a new workweek \u2014 and the second day of <\/strong><strong>Spring. <\/strong>The first quarter is over next week \u2014 and we have just 23 days until Ramadan.<\/p><p><strong>THE BIG STORIES AT HOME-<\/strong><strong> Egypt is one step closer to getting its own covid-19 vaccine out<\/strong><strong> the door<\/strong>, after regulators signed off on the start of clinical trials for a jab developed by the National Research Center. <strong>And the central bank has left rates on hold. <\/strong>We have all the details in the news well, below.<\/p><p><strong>THE BIG STORY INTERNATIONALLY- Only residents of Japan will be able to attend the <\/strong><strong>delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics<\/strong> this summer The move is part of a bid to contain the spread of covid-19, the organizers said in <a href=\"https:\/\/tokyo2020.org\/en\/news\/statement-on-overseas-spectators-for-the-olympic-and-paralympic-games-tokyo-2020?utm_campaign=Twitter_na_na_t2020-new_na_na_na&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=social-organic&amp;utm_content=Twitter_na_na_t2020-new_na_na_na_na_occontent-news_spredfast_t2020-official-announcements&amp;sf244117327=1\">a statement<\/a> yesterday. The organizers will refund the cost of 900k tickets snapped up by fans from outside Japan. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/03\/20\/international-spectators-to-be-barred-from-entering-japan-for-olympics.html\">CNBC<\/a> has more. The Olympics, postponed by a year due to the pandemic, are now scheduled for 23 July to 8 August, and the Paralympics from 24 August to 5 September.<\/p><p><strong>SIGNS OF THE TIMES for you to consider as this workweek gets underway:<\/strong><\/p><ul>\n<li><strong>Egypt has tapped a former top congressional defense aide to help Cairo lobby <\/strong><strong>policymakers<\/strong> in the US House and Senate. ForeignLobby.com has a full rundown on the hire, which is running through Brownstein Hyatt, Egypt\u2019s lobby firm in DC (background <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/0be42537-26dc-45d9-ae92-b20703428358\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/02417fc3-6e06-4def-b6aa-ed32bdd64b8f\">here<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>China and the US had a \u201chostile encounter\u201d at a sit-down in Alaska<\/strong> that saw top foreign policy officials on both sides trade recriminations. Two must-reads to get you up to speed on all the nuance are in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/china\/2021\/03\/20\/a-hostile-meeting-sets-the-tone-for-us-china-relations\">Economist<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/03\/19\/world\/asia\/china-us-alaska.html\">New York Times<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The US Securities and Exchange Commission is going to be tough on oil <\/strong><strong>companies<\/strong> when it comes to climate issues, telling ConocoPhillips and Occidental that they need to hold shareholder votes on emissions targets, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/50b52600-dd43-427c-88a6-149cf790cb70\">Financial Times<\/a> writes.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Thinking of a flexible WFH \/ work from the office policy? How are you going to cope with <\/strong><strong>everyone wanting to work from home Sundays and Thursdays? <\/strong>How will you make sure folks still working from home feel included? And don\u2019t get us started on whether you should have a mandatory vaccination policy. All of this and more is on the minds of corporate chieftains globally, the Wall Street Journal writes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/companies-wrestle-with-hybrid-work-plansawkward-meetings-and-midweek-crowding-11616146200\">Companies wrestle with hybrid work plans \u2014 awkward meetings and midweek crowding<\/a>.<\/p><p><strong>Goldman Sachs investment banking interns are getting plenty of attention for a <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/Goldman-Sachs-Working-Conditions-Survey.pdf\">deck they<\/a><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/Goldman-Sachs-Working-Conditions-Survey.pdf\">created (pdf)<\/a><\/strong> that says they\u2019re working 105 hours a week, are sleeping five hours a night and routinely leave the office at 3am. The result? Their mental and physical health are cratering, they say in a presentation done in the style of a typical GS presentation, which concludes with a call for an 80-hour workweek.<\/p><p><strong>PSA #1- Did you need us to tell you it\u2019s warm out?<\/strong> Look for waves of dry, hot and dust-laden weather in the capital city and coastal areas continuing through Tuesday, before the mercury returns to a more seasonally appropriate range on Wednesday, the <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2QtFMTr\">national weather service<\/a> says. We\u2019re looking at a daytime high of 36\u00b0C today, 35\u00b0C tomorrow and 32\u00b0C on Tuesday.<\/p><div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12 subscribe-box-panel\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div class=\"title\">\n<h4 class=\"fw-lighter mb-10\">\n          Get <b style=\"font-weight: 700\">Enterprise<\/b> daily<br>\n        <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-10\">The roundup of news and trends that move your markets and shape corporate agendas delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>      <a href=\"egypt\/en\/user\/NewsLetters\" type=\"button \" class=\"btn-green px-3 d-flex align-items-center\">Subscribe here<\/a>\n    <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><p><strong>CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Talking sustainable manufacturing with BEBA:<\/strong> The British-Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) will host a virtual conference on how Egyptian and UK firms can work together on sustainable manufacturing projects in Africa in the post-Brexit environment on Tuesday, 23 March. Check out the agenda <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/uk-egypt-partnership-for-the-promotion-of-sustainable-manufacturing-in-africa_official-programme.pdf\">here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p><p><strong>The AUC\u2019s Women on Boards Observatory will launch its 2020 annual monitoring report<\/strong> <strong>at an event on Tuesday, 23 March<\/strong>, with remarks from National Council for Women chief Maya Morsy, UN Women Egypt Office boss Christine Arab, and observatory founder Ghada Howaidy, among others. Check out the agenda <a href=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/555641399265b31f59e91ea26\/files\/96a212cf-1b65-4b6d-a434-4815002960da\/Agenda_Women_on_Boards_in_Egypt_March_23.pdf\">here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p><p><strong>The second edition of the <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/30MF3OK\">Egypt Retail Summit<\/a><\/strong> takes place at the Nile Ritz Carlton hotel this Tuesday 23 March, bringing together retail brands in Egypt and the region.<\/p><p><strong>PSA #2- You have until 31 March to visit the moroor and get an RFID sticker<\/strong> affixed to your car\u2019s windshield \u2014 or run afoul of the Traffic Police.<\/p><p><strong>Check out our full calendar on the web<\/strong> for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.<\/p>\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/covid-19\/\">covid-19<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/japan\/\">Japan<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/sports\/\">sports<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/what-were-tracking-today\/\">What We&#039;re Tracking Today<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560966\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"560966\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/560966\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560966\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560966 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class='web-image'><a href='https:\/\/somabay.com\/'><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/Somabay_Mothers-Day_1600px.jpg?ssl=1\" alt='enterprise'><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Call us to book a heartfelt coastal celebration full of pampering and love at Somabay.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560967\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560967\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">COVID WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/\">\r\n                            One step closer to an Egyptian covid jab                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=One step closer to an Egyptian covid jab&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/&title=One step closer to an Egyptian covid jab\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=One+step+closer+to+an+Egyptian+covid+jab+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fone-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/one-step-closer-to-an-egyptian-covid-jab\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560967\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560967 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-covid-watch tag-astrazeneca tag-covid-19 tag-enterpriseam tag-eu tag-vaccines wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-01\"><\/a> <strong>Clinical trials could start soon on Egypt\u2019s first locally developed covid-19 vaccine <\/strong>after the jab got regulatory approval, Masaa DMC\u2019s Ahmed Fayek said on Thursday (<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Qqj7Y1\">watch, runtime: 11:11<\/a>). The vaccine \u2014 named Covi Vax \u2014 has already undergone lab and animal testing and is now moving onto the next step in the process, but will not be complete or available for at least six months, Fayek noted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What we know about it so far:<\/strong> The two-dose jab will use inactive virus \u2014 the same technology used in standard vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, as well as the Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine. Peer reviews of the vaccine indicate that it produces antibodies three weeks after administration, which remain active for 13 weeks, and was effective in preventing severe illness in the animals that were tested, and is 100% effective in preventing death.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It is unclear where the vaccines will be manufactured<\/strong>, but Health Minister Hala Zayed had said <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/69472ef9-9ee9-4af9-b020-309cccfa9b29\">back in December<\/a> that state-owned vaccine maker Vacsera had set up a production line to manufacture the Sinopharm jab here at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking of Sinopharm: Our second gift shipment of 300k doses of the Chinese vaccine <\/strong><strong>landed in Egypt in the early hours of Saturday<\/strong>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/38WtaKP\">Health Ministry said<\/a>. The shipment brings the total number of Sinopharm doses Egypt has taken receipt of to 650k, including the first batch of 50k jabs we purchased <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/69472ef9-9ee9-4af9-b020-309cccfa9b29\">in December<\/a> and another 300k-dose batch Beijing gifted to us in <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/5b61a68f-0c3a-4551-9600-189a03070e9b\">February<\/a>. We should have a total of 3 mn doses of the Sinopharm jab by the end of May, head of the Health Ministry\u2019s preventive medicine department Alaa Eid told Hadith Al Kahera yesterday (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XVb43sZ8GLM\">watch, runtime: 13:28<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>More vaccine shipments on the way, but the timeline is unclear:<\/strong> We should be getting another 1.5 mn vaccine doses by 30 March, followed by another 5.5 mn-dose shipment at the end of the first week of April, he said. Eid did not specify which vaccine he was referring to, but Zayed recently said that we should be taking receipt of the first 5 mn doses of an 8.6 mn shot order of AstraZeneca by March 30, which we\u2019ve placed through the Gavi \/ Covax initiative.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As many as 250k people are eligible to be vaccinated in Egypt this week alone<\/strong>, Zayed said in <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/392H3qL\">a statement<\/a> yesterday. Anyone living in Egypt who is 18 or older is now <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/c3611499-4c07-4b9f-b40b-1fdcadead53e\">eligible<\/a> and can register for the jab through <a href=\"https:\/\/egcovac.mohp.gov.eg\/#\/home\">the ministry\u2019s website<\/a>. <strong>The ministry has so far inoculated 25,500 individuals<\/strong>, Eid said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The ministry could set up more vaccination centers to help speed up the process of <\/strong><strong>administering jabs<\/strong> for everyone who has registered and alleviate some of the bottlenecks in the process, advisor to the minister Noha Assem told Kelma Akhira\u2019s Lamees El Hadidi (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a1kksBTy7NE\">watch, runtime: 14:22<\/a>). Assem noted that part of the reason for the slow pace in vaccinating eligible individuals is incomplete data in the registration process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lamees called on the government to allow the private sector to import vaccines to help <\/strong><strong>make the jabs more readily available for those who are willing to pay<\/strong>, pointing out that several companies want to inoculate their employees and that opening up this space would take some of the pressure off the Health Ministry (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lB0l1LuhuOQ\">watch, runtime: 2:55<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Health Ministry <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3cRa1Lx\">reported<\/a><\/strong><strong> 644 new covid-19 infections yesterday<\/strong>, on par with 645 the day before. The ministry also reported 45 new deaths, bringing the country\u2019s total death toll to 11,557. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 194,127 confirmed cases of covid-19.<\/p>\n<p><strong>European governments are set to resume the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca<\/strong><strong> vaccine<\/strong> after Europe\u2019s pharma regulator on Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/news\/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-benefits-still-outweigh-risks-despite-possible-link-rare-blood-clots\">said the shot is \u201csafe and effective\u201d<\/a> and not responsible for increasing the risk of blood clots, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-56440139\">the BBC<\/a> reports. Germany, France, Italy and Spain will all allow distribution to resume after last week <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/5b61a68f-0c3a-4551-9600-189a03070e9b\">suspending use<\/a> of the vaccine after several batches were linked to blood clotting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Egypt said it has no intention to halt the vaccine<\/strong> after receiving in January the <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/4f020acd-a1ca-43b7-8d2f-e41b501fa76e\">first<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/4f020acd-a1ca-43b7-8d2f-e41b501fa76e\">50k<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/4f020acd-a1ca-43b7-8d2f-e41b501fa76e\">doses<\/a> of the 20 mn jabs the British firm will supply to Egypt (aside from the 40 mn we\u2019re receiving from Gavi \/ Covax), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/astrazeneca-vaccines-woes-in-europe-arent-hurting-its-appeal-elsewhere-11616091081?mod=searchresults_pos4&page=1\">the Wall Street Journal<\/a> noted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Meanwhile, Western \u201cvaccine nationalism\u201d is doing the world no favors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>US export controls are putting global vaccine production at risk<\/strong>, two of India\u2019s biggest manufacturers have warned, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/7225cbad-8523-425f-b82c-d49b80c39417\">Financial Times<\/a> reports. <strong>And the UK + EU are engaging in some post-Brexit vaccine-rattling: <\/strong>The EU has threatened to cut off exports of covid-19 vaccines to the UK amid delays in AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries that are causing what EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen described as the \u201ccrisis of the century,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-health-coronavirus-pass-eu\/eu-puts-brake-on-covid-vaccine-exports-to-cope-with-crisis-of-the-century-idUSKBN2B91FU\">Reuters<\/a> reports. Europe is aiming to vaccinate <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/vonderleyen\/status\/1372154226885951498\">70% of its adults<\/a> by the end of summer, but has so far inoculated less than 10%, falling behind the US and UK as a third wave of the virus gathers pace.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But the US is looking to share the stock of vaccines it hasn\u2019t approved for domestic use<\/strong>, saying on Thursday it will send 4 mn of its 7 mn-dose stockpile of AstraZeneca jabs to Mexico and Canada, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/press-briefings\/2021\/03\/19\/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-17\/\">White House press briefing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pfizer wants to jack up the price of its jab<\/strong> when the emergency of the pandemic abates, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/pfizer-execs-highlight-significant-opportunity-hike-covid-vaccine-price-2021-3?r=US&IR=T\">Business Insider<\/a> reports. Company execs told the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference last week that it is \u201cincreasingly likely\u201d that governments will have to undertake mass vaccination every year but that there is \u201ca significant opportunity\u201d to raise prices when the virus shifts to an endemic state. People may also need a third jab to ensure immunity against new variants of the virus, they said.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/astrazeneca\/\">AstraZeneca<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/covid-19\/\">covid-19<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/eu\/\">EU<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/vaccines\/\">vaccines<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560968\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560968\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Economy<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/cbe-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\">\r\n                            CBE leaves interest rates on hold                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/cbe-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Overnight deposit and lending rates remain unchanged at 8.25% and 9.25% respectively, while main operation and discount rates remain at 8.75%.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The hold was expected by all <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/4e93cbb9-79ef-4b1d-807b-d74d1637b427\">12 analysts we surveyed<\/a><\/strong> ahead of the meeting. They cited the possible impact of heightened commodity prices on domestic inflation and the potential for rising bond yields in the US to hit our all-important carry trade.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Holding rates <\/strong><strong>is consistent<\/strong><strong> with achieving the target inflation rate of 7% +\/-2 by the end of next year<\/strong>, the CBE said in its statement. The country\u2019s \u201cleading indicators are gradually recovering to their pre-pandemic levels,\u201d while \u201cglobal economic and financial conditions are expected to remain accommodative and supportive of economic activity over the medium term,\u201d despite a recent pickup in global bond yields.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The new highs recorded in global food and commodity prices including oil were a main driver of the CBE\u2019s decision<\/strong>, EFG Hermes\u2019 Head of Macro Mohamed Abu Basha and Beltone's head of research Alia Mamdouh told us, with the CBE expecting a possible pick up in the rate of inflation in the coming months. Annual urban inflation accelerated to 4.5% in <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/2ad47058-a1df-4f79-a48e-1b39c17beb79\">February<\/a> after a drop to 4.3% in <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/d2132ef4-bbe3-4fbf-adbe-0033fb050730\">January<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The seasonal increase in food prices accompanying Ramadan is likely to drive up inflation<\/strong>, Pharos\u2019 head of research Radwa El Swaify told us. Over the second and third quarters of 2021, inflation will fluctuate between 5% and 7% on an annual basis, driven mainly by the base effect, she said. As for the full year, EFG Hermes\u2019 Abu Basha forecasts inflation to average 6% amid expected increases in food and commodity prices, while Beltone\u2019s Mamdouh sees inflation at an average of 7%, though it may cross this level if there is unexpected seasonality in prices or spending, he said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But price growth could remain weaker until the end of the summer: <\/strong>Egypt is unlikely to see severe inflationary pressures due to increasing stockpiles of commodities to meet demand for eight months, said Mamdouh. Egypt said in January it had <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/546bf570-5fdd-4d59-8cee-95b079b6c90d\">enough strategic wheat reserves<\/a> for the next five months, sugar for the next eight months, and oil for the next four. This could change after the summer when the government has built up its stockpiles of key commodities, she said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The carry trade remains attractive: <\/strong>Egypt\u2019s real rates are still the highest in the world \u2014 and the country is in a better position to weather possible outflows than countries like Brazil and Turkey due to its <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/3fd136c3-bbdd-4838-8e29-2717a1ff5eea\">positive growth rate in 2020<\/a>, Abu Basha said, adding that Egypt has not witnessed outflows in the first two months of the year due to offering high real yields. Foreign holdings in local Egyptian debt hit its<a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/1a1d9e08-8976-4312-aa23-d653611f22bc\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/1a1d9e08-8976-4312-aa23-d653611f22bc\">highest-ever level of USD 28.5 bn<\/a> in February, reversing the <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/1a1d9e08-8976-4312-aa23-d653611f22bc\">60% capital outflows<\/a> prompted by covid-19 between March and May last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-03-18\/world-s-top-real-rate-is-just-right-for-egypt-decision-guide?sref=mmeFTDW1\">Bloomberg<\/a> notes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Still, Egypt remains vulnerable to rising US treasury yields<\/strong> which threaten to tempt foreign investors away from emerging markets, El Swaify told us. Emerging-market bond funds <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-03-18\/egypt-sticks-with-world-s-highest-real-interest-rate?sref=mmeFTDW1\">saw their biggest outflows in almost a year<\/a> earlier this month as investors lost their appetite for risk amid rising rates in the US while EM currencies are down 1% since February. \u201cWhile portfolio flows and the pound have remained broadly stable in recent weeks, we believe Egypt is not immune to these developments,\u201d said Goldman Sachs economist Farouk Soussa ahead of the meeting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This is despite a raft of rate hikes in emerging markets last week:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/0cf78a08-8b37-445d-93d0-b442d1cabf13\">Russia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/464c3868-417a-4b52-aaf7-6e5d95ff932e\">Brazil<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-03-18\/turkey-delivers-bigger-than-expected-rate-hike-to-rein-in-prices?sref=mmeFTDW1\">Turkey<\/a> all took action and hiked rates last week in what some are predicting to be the start of a tightening cycle to ward off stimulus-fueled inflation. Russia\u2019s central bank unexpectedly increased rates for the first time since 2018 as inflation inches towards new five-year highs while Brazil went ahead with its first rate-hike in six years, raising them by 75 bps, higher than the 50 bps expected by economists.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And a reversal of the easing cycle could be in the cards if current trends accelerate: <\/strong>The CBE is in \u201cwait-and-see\u201d mode, but may raise interest rates if US treasury yields and commodity prices continue to rise at a rapid pace, according to Abu Basha. Meanwhile, Beltone\u2019s Mamdouh notes that any higher rates are subject to global economic developments. Since 2018 the central bank has reduced its benchmark interest rate from 18.75%. It cut rates by a total of 400 bps last year, including an <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/f2e78eb3-6978-4eb5-a04f-a3b7247293ed\">emergency 300-bps cut in March<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/383b8b99-dd6d-46df-b2dd-f2c241ea039f\">two 50-bps cuts<\/a>in September and November to support the economy through the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SPEAKING OF TURKEY: President <\/strong><strong>Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked his third central bank governor since mid-2019. <\/strong>The move came two days after the central bank hiked rates a sharp 875 bps to 19% in a bid to stave off inflation. The new governor is a former MP from Erdogan\u2019s AK Party who has publicly backed the president\u2019s demand for lower rates. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-turkey-cenbank-governor-idUSKBN2BC0IA?taid=605626940637bb00011b0ac9&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter\">Reuters<\/a> has more.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/central-bank-of-egypt\/\">Central Bank of Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/economy\/\">economy<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/emerging-markets\/\">emerging markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/inflation\/\">inflation<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/interest-rates\/\">interest rates<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560970\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560970\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">4<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">COMPETITION WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/\">\r\n                            Will Eastern\u2019s monopoly go up in smoke?                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Will Eastern\u2019s monopoly go up in smoke?&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/&title=Will Eastern\u2019s monopoly go up in smoke?\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Will+Eastern%E2%80%99s+monopoly+go+up+in+smoke%3F+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fwill-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/256.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"560971\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/will-easterns-monopoly-go-up-in-smoke\/256-jpg-21\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/256.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"256.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/256.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/256.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560970\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560970 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-competition-watch tag-competition-watch tag-eastern-company tag-enterpriseam tag-manufacturing wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-03\"><\/a> <strong>Eastern Company\u2019s tobacco monopoly <\/strong><strong>could<\/strong><strong> soon come to an end<\/strong> after the government put a license to manufacture regular and e-cigarettes up for grabs. Authorities have invited both companies with a local presence and new players to compete, <a href=\"https:\/\/alborsaanews.com\/2021\/03\/18\/1426634\">the local press<\/a> reported, citing government sources. Eastern \u2014 which has been the only licensed cigarette manufacturer for decades \u2014 would still own 24% of the company that will be set up by whoever gets the license, the report says. Big tobacco sellers aren\u2019t too excited, it adds, and have formally asked the government to reconsider the tender\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The terms skew in Eastern\u2019s favor: <\/strong>Besides owning 24% of the planned company, Eastern\u2019s market share is unlikely to be affected thanks to a provision that would force the new company to sell any popular brands at a price 50% higher than Eastern.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other conditions: <\/strong>The would-be manufacturer will need to fulfill a production quota of at least 15 bn cigarettes a year and have its factory, which has to have an annual production capacity of up to 50 bn cigarettes, up and running in no more than three years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eastern neither confirmed nor denied. <\/strong>The company doesn\u2019t have \u201cany official information regarding this decision [to issue the tender], and in the event of availability of official information or contacts, it will be dealt with, studied, and presented,\u201d the EGX-listed company said in <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/Eastern-Company-20-03-EN.pdf\">a regulatory filing (pdf)<\/a>. The company said it welcomes any prospect to \u201cemphasize its ability to compete, expand, and raise operational profits,\u201d and that it\u2019s currently studying potential investments to \u201cstrengthen its position as leader in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The big four are less than overjoyed: <\/strong>Four major brand owners and distributors \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jti.com\/middle-east\/egypt\">JTI-Nakhla Tobacco<\/a>, British American Tobacco Egypt, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imperialbrandsplc.com\/index.html\">Imperial Tobacco<\/a>, and Al Mansour International Distribution Company \u2014 that have been invited to bid have complained about the conditions asked the government to reconsider the terms, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/idUSL8N2LG5ZC\">Reuters<\/a> said, citing a letter to Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly. The companies expressed concern that, because only one license is up for grabs, the winning company would gain an unfair advantage, and pointed out that the condition that limits rights to manufacture next-generation products including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco could create a new monopoly in the sub-sector.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bidders have u<\/strong><strong>ntil 4 April to make an offer<\/strong>, as well as an initial EGP 30 mn deposit to the government (increasing to EGP 100 mn for any qualifying party). Authorities are due to start the formal selection process on 2 June. If the tender runs and wraps up under the current rules, no new manufacturers would be eligible for licenses for 10 years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The status quo: <\/strong>Companies other than Eastern \u2014 which is 51% owned by the state\u2019s Chemical Industries Holding \u2014 can only import and sell. This has been the case ever since the century-old company took over a nationalized industry to counteract the large influence of Greek immigrants in the sector before the 1952 Revolution. Now, Eastern holds a 70% market share with both products it owns and products it manufactures for global brand owners including Philip Morris International Japan Tobacco International. It\u2019s the only licensed traditional cigarette manufacturer, but many other companies are allowed to produce \u201cmoassel,\u201d the tobacco used in shisha (waterpipes).<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/competition-watch\/\">competition watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/eastern-company\/\">Eastern Company<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/manufacturing\/\">Manufacturing<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560972\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560972\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">M&amp;A WATCH<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/\">\r\n                            Ebtikar now holds 80% of Bee + Rx Healthcare has a EGP 1 bn M&#038;A pipeline                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Ebtikar now holds 80% of Bee + Rx Healthcare has a EGP 1 bn M&#038;A pipeline&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/&title=Ebtikar now holds 80% of Bee + Rx Healthcare has a EGP 1 bn M&#038;A pipeline\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Ebtikar+now+holds+80%25+of+Bee+%2B+Rx+Healthcare+has+a+EGP+1+bn+M%26%23038%3BA+pipeline+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Febtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/ebtikar-now-holds-80-of-bee-rx-healthcare-has-a-egp-1-bn-ma-pipeline\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560972\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560972 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-ma-watch tag-b-investments tag-bee-smart-payment-solutions tag-bpe-partners tag-capital-markets tag-ebtikar tag-efg-hermes tag-enterpriseam tag-health tag-ma-watch tag-masary tag-mm-group tag-rx-healthcare tag-vodafone-egypt wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-04\"><\/a> <strong>Ebtikar now holds 80% of Bee after acquiring an additional 20% stake<\/strong> in the company held by software services company Techno Beez. The EGP 40 mn transaction officially closed yesterday, <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3sjdRnf\">Al Mal<\/a> reports, citing unnamed sources. Ebtikar, which already held <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.press\/stories\/2017\/10\/04\/mti-acquires-60-of-bee\/\">a 60% stake in Bee<\/a> before the transaction, is now mulling a share swap with Techno Beez that would see the latter acquire a stake in Ebtikar, the sources said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background:<\/strong> Ebtikar\u2019s acquisition follows <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/42db6645-da56-49c4-a284-ed39e05306b4\">Vodafone Egypt\u2019s purchase<\/a> of a 20% stake in each of Bee and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.e-masary.com\/\">Masary<\/a> \u2014 both subsidiaries of Ebtikar \u2014 under the terms of an MoU between Vodafone and Ebtikar. Vodafone will acquire the stakes through a capital increase \u2014 a move that will open the door for Bee and Masary\u2019s expansion in Africa. Ebtikar is a joint venture between B investments, BPE Partners and MM Group for Industry and International Trade.<\/p>\n<p><strong>OTHER M&A NEWS- EFG Hermes\u2019 <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rxhealthmanagement.com\/\">Rx Healthcare<\/a><\/strong><strong> is either in talks over or due to wrap <\/strong><strong>up EGP 1 bn worth of new acquisitions <\/strong>in the generic pharma and injectables industries, EFG said in its <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/EFG_Hermes_Earnings_Release_FY2020.pdf\">2020 earnings release (pdf)<\/a>. The fund will look to expand its portfolio of pharma companies after having successfully closed an 80% stake purchase in manufacturer United Pharma <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.press\/stories\/2019\/11\/27\/efg-led-rx-healthcare-confirms-closing-egyptian-meds-producer-united-pharma-acquisition-7157\/\">in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/b-investments\/\">B Investments<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/bee-smart-payment-solutions\/\">Bee Smart Payment Solutions<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/bpe-partners\/\">BPE Partners<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/capital-markets\/\">capital markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/ebtikar\/\">Ebtikar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/efg-hermes\/\">EFG Hermes<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/health\/\">health<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/ma-watch\/\">M&amp;A Watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/masary\/\">Masary<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/mm-group\/\">MM Group<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/rx-healthcare\/\">RX Healthcare<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/vodafone-egypt\/\">Vodafone Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560973\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560973\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">6<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Politics<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/\">\r\n                            Turkey tells Ikhwani press to lay off Egypt in latest bid for reconciliation                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Turkey tells Ikhwani press to lay off Egypt in latest bid for reconciliation&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/&title=Turkey tells Ikhwani press to lay off Egypt in latest bid for reconciliation\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Turkey+tells+Ikhwani+press+to+lay+off+Egypt+in+latest+bid+for+reconciliation+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fturkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/258.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"560974\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/turkey-tells-ikhwani-press-to-lay-off-egypt-in-latest-bid-for-reconciliation\/258-jpg-21\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/258.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"258.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/258.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/258.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560973\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560973 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-_newspack_politics tag-al-jazeera tag-bahrain tag-enterpriseam tag-libya tag-media tag-muslim-brotherhood tag-osama-heikal tag-politics tag-qatar tag-saudi-arabia tag-turkey tag-uae wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-05\"><\/a> <strong>Turkish officials have told Ikhwani mouthpieces and other dissident media based in <\/strong><strong>Turkey to tone down their <\/strong><strong>criticism of Egypt<\/strong>, head of the Istanbul-based Al Sharq television station and former Egyptian MP Ayman Nour told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/idUSKBN2BB228\">Reuters<\/a>, marking the country\u2019s latest attempt to improve relations with Cairo. A member of staff at Al Sharq told the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/turkey-television-istanbul-egypt-cairo-d0324373f40449cbf488a0ac58c44605\">Associated Press<\/a> the request was made during a meeting that also included broadcasters Mekameleen and Watan, on Thursday, in which all three channels were instructed to refrain from criticizing the Egyptian government so as not to affect ongoing talks. The officials said TV channels should not \u201cattack\u201d or \u201ccriticize\u201d people and should practice objectivity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Egypt\u2019s pundits are happy:<\/strong> Information Minister Osama Heikal <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2OP9PUQ\">called the move<\/a> a \u201cgood initiative\u201d that would enable negotiations between Egypt and Turkey to move forward in an atmosphere more conducive to a positive outcome. <strong>Egyptian talkshows were silent on the issue <\/strong>last night.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The move is the latest in a series of olive branches offered by Ankara to Cairo<\/strong> in an apparent attempt to dial back tensions that have risen in recent months over gas exploration in the East Mediterranean and the conflict in Libya. Turkey suggested earlier this month that it could sign <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/97a7c519-e6da-49a3-a333-d6aef5ec7f00\">a maritime agreement<\/a> with Egypt demarcating EastMed borders if relations improve, and Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told Bloomberg Turkey hoped \u201ca new page can be turned in [their] relationship with Egypt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>But we\u2019ll have to see whether this latest move is enough to curry Cairo\u2019s favor: <\/strong>Despite Turkey\u2019s keenness, Egyptian officials <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/a497b68c-b8b0-44ce-a68b-ad2379709ff9\">told MENA last week<\/a> that the two countries had not resumed official diplomatic communication, and that Turkey should stop \u201cmeddling\u201d in regional affairs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Egypt and Turkey\u2019s longstanding rift dates back to 2013<\/strong> when Ankara backed the Ikhwan government Mohamed Morsi and grew even more tense last year, when Ankara refused to recognise an economic zone <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/3c3ad5b2-df09-4b29-a8b0-493e1b964837\">agreed between Egypt and Greece<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/4cbff3e9-2edd-4994-8b14-e0453fc0ca30\">pressed ahead with its own gas surveys<\/a> and naval exercises in disputed waters. Until the recent peace agreement, both countries were also backing opposite sides of the Libyan civil war, with Egypt supporting eastern Libyan forces and Turkey intervening on behalf of the western, Tripoli-based government.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The story is all over the foreign press: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/turkey-asks-brotherhood-tvs-to-dim-criticism-of-egypt\/2021\/03\/19\/8eaa09ec-88b5-11eb-be4a-24b89f616f2c_story.html\">The Washington Post<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/europe\/turkey-asks-brotherhood-tv-channels-dim-criticism-egypt\">VOA News<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.haaretz.com\/middle-east-news\/turkey\/turkey-asks-egyptian-opposition-to-tone-down-criticism-tv-network-owner-says-1.9635468\">Haaretz<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arabnews.com\/node\/1828181\/media\">Arab News<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>ALSO IN DIPLOMACY-<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Egypt and Saudi Arabia are pressing ahead with negotiations with Qatar<\/strong> following <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/036bdfbe-0680-448e-a011-b607497ac279\">the end of a 3.5 year blockade<\/a>, but Bahrain and the UAE seem to be dragging their feet, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1613533\">Reuters<\/a> reports. Talks with the UAE have made little progress and Bahrain hasn\u2019t yet arrived at the negotiating table, the newswire says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But key differences remain:<\/strong> The quartet have demanded that Qatar rein in Al Jazeera and inflammatory social media accounts, as well as cut ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and move away from Iran, which Doha says it is unwilling to do. Egypt has reportedly asked for the extradition of a number of Brotherhood leaders from Qatar, though Qatari officials deny having received such a request.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s driving regional realignments?<\/strong> The increasingly close relationships between Arab states and Greece, Cyprus and Israel is being fueled partly by the common desire to curb Turkish and Iranian influence in the region, Seth J. Frantzman writes for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/opinion\/articles\/2021-03-18\/new-alliances-link-gulf-arab-states-to-the-eastern-mediterranean?sref=mmeFTDW1\">Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/al-jazeera\/\">Al Jazeera<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/bahrain\/\">Bahrain<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/libya\/\">Libya<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/media\/\">media<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/muslim-brotherhood\/\">Muslim Brotherhood<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/osama-heikal\/\">Osama Heikal<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/qatar\/\">Qatar<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/turkey\/\">Turkey<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560975\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560975\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">7<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Startup watch<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/\">\r\n                            zVendo closes six-figure USD investment from EFG EV, others                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=zVendo closes six-figure USD investment from EFG EV, others&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/&title=zVendo closes six-figure USD investment from EFG EV, others\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=zVendo+closes+six-figure+USD+investment+from+EFG+EV%2C+others+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fzvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/zvendo-closes-six-figure-usd-investment-from-efg-ev-others\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560975\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560975 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-startup-watch tag-e-commerce tag-enterpriseam tag-fintech tag-startup-watch tag-zvendo wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-06\"><\/a> <strong>E-commerce platform <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/zvendo.com\/\">zVendo<\/a><\/strong> <strong>has landed a six-figure USD investment in a funding<\/strong><strong> round<\/strong> led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.efgev.com\/\">EFG EV Fintech<\/a> and several undisclosed angel investors, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/disrupt-africa.com\/2021\/03\/19\/egyptian-e-commerce-platform-zvendo-lands-6-figure-seed-round\/\">Disrupt Africa<\/a>. The Cairo-based startup operates a software-as-a-service platform that allows sellers to market their products online and access analytics, sales reports, and marketing tools. It recently expanded operations to support vendors across all industries and has recently launched in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with plans to make further inroads internationally.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/e-commerce\/\">e-commerce<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/fintech\/\">Fintech<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/startup-watch\/\">Startup watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/zvendo\/\">zVendo<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560976\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"560976\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/560976\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560976\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560976 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class='web-image'><a href='https:\/\/www.sodic.com\/'><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/1\/Sodic-Karmell2-1600px.jpg?ssl=1\" alt='enterprise'><\/a><\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560977\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">      \r\n<section id=\"advertiser\" class=\"enterprise-adv issue-section\">\r\n    <div class=\"issue-section__content\" style=\"flex-direction: column;\">\r\n  \r\n                <h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-normal-font-size\">\r\n                <span class=\"has-primary-color stk-highlight\">This publication is proudly sponsored by<\/span><\/h4>\r\n                \r\n\r\n                \r\n                <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-carousel alignwide stk-block-carousel stk--is-slide stk--infinite-scroll stk--arrows-justify-space-between stk--arrows-align-center stk-block stk-a38cfb2 sponsor-slider-container mb-0\" data-slides-to-show=\"3\" data-block-id=\"a38cfb2\"><style>.stk-a38cfb2 {--slides-to-show:3 !important;}.stk-a38cfb2 .stk-block-carousel__button{background:#00000099 !important;fill:#FFFFFF !important;border-radius:4px !important;}.stk-a38cfb2 .stk-block-carousel__button svg.ugb-custom-icon :is(g, path, rect, polygon, ellipse){fill:#FFFFFF !important;}<\/style>\r\n                <div class=\"stk-block-carousel__content-wrapper\">\r\n                <div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-block-carousel__slider-wrapper stk-content-align stk-a38cfb2-column alignwide\">\r\n                <div class=\"stk-block-carousel__slider\" role=\"list\" data-autoplay=\"4000\" data-label-slide-of=\"Slide %%d of %%d\">\r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-46c5f99\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"46c5f99\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-46c5f99-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-46c5f99-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240922.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hsbc.com.eg\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/27489.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Opening up a world of opportunity<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-rukxr75\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"rukxr75\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-rukxr75-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-rukxr75-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240923.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/efghldg.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/27488.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Realize More<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-2cwu2fg\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"2cwu2fg\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-2cwu2fg-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-2cwu2fg-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240924.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sodic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/27487.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Live More<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-lris38y\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"lris38y\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-lris38y-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-lris38y-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240925.png?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/weareinfinity.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/27483.png?fit=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Powering with nature<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        \r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-zdnd3lc\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"zdnd3lc\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-zdnd3lc-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-zdnd3lc-inner-blocks\">\r\n            <div class=\"issue-sponsor-slide\">\r\n                <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/240926.jpg?ssl=1\">\r\n                <div class=\"overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"content\">\r\n                    <a draggable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qalaaholdings.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"logo\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/110691.svg\" alt=\"\">\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <span>Driving growth<\/span>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        <\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__buttons\"><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__prev\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-left\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-left\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M34.52 239.03L228.87 44.69c9.37-9.37 24.57-9.37 33.94 0l22.67 22.67c9.36 9.36 9.37 24.52.04 33.9L131.49 256l154.02 154.75c9.34 9.38 9.32 24.54-.04 33.9l-22.67 22.67c-9.37 9.37-24.57 9.37-33.94 0L34.52 272.97c-9.37-9.37-9.37-24.57 0-33.94z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><button class=\"stk-block-carousel__button stk-block-carousel__button__next\" aria-label=\"Next slide\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chevron-right\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chevron-right\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><path d=\"M285.476 272.971L91.132 467.314c-9.373 9.373-24.569 9.373-33.941 0l-22.667-22.667c-9.357-9.357-9.375-24.522-.04-33.901L188.505 256 34.484 101.255c-9.335-9.379-9.317-24.544.04-33.901l22.667-22.667c9.373-9.373 24.569-9.373 33.941 0L285.475 239.03c9.373 9.372 9.373 24.568.001 33.941z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-carousel__dots\" role=\"list\" data-label=\"Slide %%d\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n<\/section> \r\n\r\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560978\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560978\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">8<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Enterprise+: Last Night\u2019s Talk Shows<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/last-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                            Last Night\u2019s Talk Shows on 21 March 2021                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/last-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/last-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                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href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/last-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021\/&title=Last Night\u2019s Talk Shows on 21 March 2021\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Last+Night%E2%80%99s+Talk+Shows+on+21+March+2021+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Flast-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/last-nights-talk-shows-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560978\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560978 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-enterprise-last-nights-talk-shows tag-diplomacy tag-enterpriseam tag-ethiopia tag-last-nights-talk-shows tag-sudan wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><strong>Aside from the latest on our vaccination program <\/strong>(see above),<strong> the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam<\/strong><strong> negotiations were at the top of the agenda<\/strong> for the talking heads last night.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Once Ethiopia moves ahead with the second filling of the dam\u2019s reservoir in July, Egypt and Sudan will be forced into a position where Ethiopia has even more of an upper hand<\/strong> and will have the ability to impose whatever conditions it wants on its downstream neighbors, former Irrigation Minister Mohamed Nasr Allam told Kelma Akhira\u2019s Lamees El Hadidi. Egypt\u2019s water security won\u2019t directly be affected by the second filling, particularly as the Aswan High Dam can cope with the influx of water from that phase, but the real danger is what this phase represents for us down the line (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FIK8TBVaFDk\">watch, runtime: 14:22<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ethiopia is trying to use the GERD situation to position itself as an African power<\/strong>, African Affairs expert at Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies Amani El Tawil told Ala Mas\u2019ouleety\u2019s Ahmed Moussa (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-SDLHzUfCEI\">watch, runtime: 11:02<\/a>). El Hekaya\u2019s Amr Adib echoed El Tawil\u2019s thoughts, saying that Ethiopia is taking a \u201cselfish\u201d approach to further its own interests (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uz1SiUPjKXE\">watch, runtime: 4:01<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><strong>The perspective from Sudan:<\/strong> Khartoum \u201cdoesn\u2019t have any options\u201d in the impasse with Ethiopia except for bringing in international mediators or resorting to an outright war, Sudanese pundit Shawky AbdelAzim told Lamees. Sudan\u2019s position on the matter is also made more complicated because of the ongoing border dispute with Ethiopia, which AbdelAzim said Addis Ababa is \u201cmixing\u201d with the GERD issue. The ball is now in the international community\u2019s court to interfere, after Ethiopia has \u201cmade it clear\u201d that it has no desire to reach a binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan over the dam, he said (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=us0MSsw59D0\">watch, runtime: 6:09<\/a>).<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/diplomacy\/\">DIPLOMACY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/ethiopia\/\">Ethiopia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/last-nights-talk-shows\/\">LAST NIGHT\u2019S TALK SHOWS<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/sudan\/\">Sudan<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560979\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560980\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560980\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">9<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">EGYPT IN THE NEWS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                            Egypt in the News on 21 March 2021                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Egypt in the News on 21 March 2021&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/&title=Egypt in the News on 21 March 2021\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Egypt+in+the+News+on+21+March+2021+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fegypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/egypt-in-the-news-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560980\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560980 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-egypt-in-the-news tag-enterpriseam tag-human-rights tag-national-security tag-north-sinai tag-tourism wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/62da2d9d-4d59-4cc4-bf5d-884353503faa\">Sanaa Seif\u2019s prison sentence<\/a><\/strong><strong> is still getting coverage in the foreign press this <\/strong><strong>morning:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/the-square-film-maker-sanaa-seif-jailed-in-egypt-for-18-months-qq6msfbnk\">The Times<\/a> notes the activist and filmmaker\u2019s 18-month sentence on charges of \u201cdisseminating false information\u201d and defaming a public official.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also making headlines: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Port Fouad\u2019s salt hills <\/strong>are reminiscent of Europe\u2019s snowy mountains, making them a go-to destination for local holidaymakers. (<a href=\"https:\/\/arabic.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/2021\/03\/17\/salt-mountains-port-said-egypt\">CNN<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hX4APOky6pA\">Reuters<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>A call for spring breakers:<\/strong> Aswan is the world\u2019s third sunniest city, coming in just behind Phoenix, Arizona. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/where-can-i-travel-for-spring-break-consider-the-sun-belt-11616172824?mod=searchresults_pos2&page=1\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/human-rights\/\">human rights<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/national-security\/\">national security<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/north-sinai\/\">North Sinai<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/tourism\/\">tourism<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560981\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560981\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">10<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">Also on our Radar<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                            Also on our Radar on 21 March 2021                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Also on our Radar on 21 March 2021&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/&title=Also on our Radar on 21 March 2021\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Also+on+our+Radar+on+21+March+2021+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Falso-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/also-on-our-radar-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560981\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560981 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-cit tag-enterpriseam tag-infrastructure tag-italy tag-kamel-el-wazir tag-marakez tag-retail tag-saipem tag-suez-canal tag-telecom-egypt tag-transport tag-water wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<aside>\t\t\t<div\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"newspack-popup-container newspack-popup hidden  newspack-inline-popup  newspack-lightbox-no-border   \"\r\n\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#000\"\r\n\t\t\t\tid=\"id_408146\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-segments=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-frequency=\"0,0,0,month\"\r\n\t\t\t>\r\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ef38739e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94bc23d7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408144.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-408144\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p><strong>Marakez<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/C.-Press-Release-Groundbreaking-EN.pdf\">has begun (pdf)<\/a> construction of its <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.press\/stories\/2019\/04\/09\/marakez-to-build-mall-in-egypts-mansoura-city-2\/\">mall in Mansoura<\/a><\/strong>, in which it will invest EGP 1 bn during the first phase.<\/p><p><strong>Saipem is interested in taking part in the planned construction of <\/strong><strong>Cairo Metro\u2019s<\/strong><strong> sixth line<\/strong>, which is expected<a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/c153c096-6916-43f7-b79d-f4ae3916372c\">to be led by US infrastructure giant Bechtel<\/a>, the Transport Ministry said in <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2NyGayD\">a statement<\/a>. The Italian contractor is currently bidding in the <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/6892cd42-3fe0-4e7e-9c22-7e2ebf8b825e\">ministry\u2019s tender<\/a> to convert Alexandria\u2019s Abu Qir railway into an underground metro, the statement said without providing further details.<\/p><p><strong>Other things we\u2019re keeping an eye on this morning:<\/strong><\/p><ul>\n<li>Tenders for four <strong>water desalination plant projects<\/strong> in El Hammam, El Quseir, Marsa Alam, and Safaga with a combined daily output capacity of 240 cbm will be <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3c4lEj2\">launched shortly<\/a> for private sector participation.<\/li>\n<li>Italian travel companies are <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3cUBXxN\">looking to resume<\/a> <strong>charter flights between Italy <\/strong>and some of Egypt\u2019s tourist destinations, including Sharm El Sheikh, starting this summer.<\/li>\n<li>Telecom Egypt will establish a <strong>new fiber optic connection<\/strong> between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean under<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3vKnhtM\">an agreement<\/a> with the Suez Canal Authority and the Armed Forces\u2019 Signal Corps.<\/li>\n<li>Car owners <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mof.gov.eg\/posts\/media\/60546fbf5e4114000928c9e0\/%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9%3A-%D8%AE%D9%81%D8%B6-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A9-%C2%AB%D8%A5%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A9%C2%BB\">now only need<\/a> to have owned their vehicles for two years to qualify for a replacement under <strong>the state\u2019s natural gas transition plan<\/strong>, down from a minimum three years previously.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/also-on-our-radar\/\">ALSO ON OUR RADAR<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/cit\/\">CIT<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/infrastructure\/\">infrastructure<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/italy\/\">Italy<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/kamel-el-wazir\/\">Kamel El Wazir<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/marakez\/\">Marakez<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/retail\/\">retail<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/saipem\/\">Saipem<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/suez-canal\/\">Suez Canal<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/telecom-egypt\/\">Telecom Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/transport\/\">transport<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/water\/\">water<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560982\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560982\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">11<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">PLANET FINANCE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-the-markets-are-doing-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                            What the markets are doing on 21 March 2021                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-the-markets-are-doing-on-21-march-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" 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href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=What+the+markets+are+doing+on+21+March+2021+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Fwhat-the-markets-are-doing-on-21-march-2021%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/what-the-markets-are-doing-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560982\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560982 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-planet-finance tag-air-france-klm tag-airways tag-aviation tag-british-airways tag-debt tag-emerging-markets tag-enterpriseam tag-financial-markets tag-g7 tag-imf tag-kristalina-georgieva tag-lufthansa tag-planet-finance wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<aside>\t\t\t<div\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"newspack-popup-container newspack-popup hidden  newspack-inline-popup  newspack-lightbox-no-border   \"\r\n\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\r\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#000\"\r\n\t\t\t\tid=\"id_408150\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-segments=\"\"\r\n\t\t\t\tdata-frequency=\"0,0,0,month\"\r\n\t\t\t>\r\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ef38739e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94bc23d7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408151.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-408151\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p><a id=\"tldr-story-09\" class=\"content-anchor\"><\/a> <strong>SIGN OF THE TIMES- Morgan Stanley\u2019s wealth management clients could soon <\/strong><strong>have access to three funds that enable BTC ownership<\/strong>, in a move that\u2019s the first of its kind in the US, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/03\/17\/bitcoin-morgan-stanley-is-the-first-big-us-bank-to-offer-wealthy-clients-access-to-bitcoin-funds.html\">CNBC<\/a> reported, citing unnamed sources in the know. The new funds grant BTC exposure to clients with \u201can aggressive risk tolerance,\u201d who have a minimum of USD 2 mn-worth of assets held by the firm. Funds on offer include two from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galaxydigital.io\/\">Galaxy Digital<\/a>, and a third that\u2019s a joint effort from <a href=\"https:\/\/nydig.com\/\">NYDIG<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/fsinvestments.com\/\">FS Investments<\/a>.<\/p><p><strong>G7 backs plan to boost IMF support to poorer countries: <\/strong>G7 countries have agreed to bolster the IMF\u2019s capital to provide post-covid relief to the developing world, the UK government \u2014 which is chairing the group this year \u2014 said in a statement following a meeting of G7 finance ministers on Friday. The plan, which will be tabled for final approval on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF spring meetings next month, involves a \u201csizeable\u201d new allocation of IMF special drawing rights, the fund\u2019s reserve currency, the statement said, without disclosing further information. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva welcomed the news, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KGeorgieva\/status\/1372933674451279876\">saying that the meeting<\/a> was \u201cproductive.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>As much as USD 650 bn in new SDRs is in the cards,<\/strong> say US sources familiar with the discussions. This would be just below the USD 679 bn bn threshold that would trigger a US congressional approval requirement, Reuters and the FT suggested. The move toward a new SDR allocation was backed by the Biden administration <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/af214fd5-5918-46c5-aed3-db02f1c55ef6\">last month<\/a> after having been opposed by Biden\u2019s predecessor, Donald Trump. This is crucial because the US, as the IMF\u2019s largest shareholder, has the right to veto new SDR rollouts. An SDRs allocation of this magnitude would be higher than the USD 500 bn originally <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/f015b9d6-2861-4d65-bdd3-e8dcea2d822d\">proposed by the IMF<\/a> earlier this year and the largest ever since USD 250 mn in new SDRs following the 2008-09 crisis.<\/p><p><strong>Want more about SDRs and why they matter for EMs? <\/strong>We took a deeper dive into the story in our PM edition <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/327fe217-a93f-4930-b865-40d5e6b61147\">last week<\/a>.<\/p><table class=\"markets-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>EGX30 <\/strong><\/td>\n<td>10,918<\/td>\n<td>-1.4% (YTD: +0.7%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>USD (CBE)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Buy 15.65<\/td>\n<td>Sell 15.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>USD at CIB<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Buy 15.65<\/td>\n<td>Sell 15.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/10\/none.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"None\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>Interest rates CBE<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>8.25% deposit<\/td>\n<td>9.25% lending<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>Tadawul<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>9,486<\/td>\n<td>-1.2% (YTD: +9.2%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>ADX<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>5,736<\/td>\n<td>-0.2% (YTD: +13.7%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/positive.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Up\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>DFM<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>2,604<\/td>\n<td>+0.1% (YTD: +4.5%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>S&amp;P 500<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>3,913<\/td>\n<td>-0.1% (YTD: +4.2%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>FTSE 100<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>6,709<\/td>\n<td>-1.1% (YTD: +3.8%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/positive.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Up\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>Brent crude<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>USD 64.53<\/td>\n<td>+2.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/positive.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Up\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>Natural gas <\/strong>(Nymex)<\/td>\n<td>USD 2.54<\/td>\n<td>+2.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/positive.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Up\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>USD 1,743.90<\/td>\n<td>+0.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"gray-table\">\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"market-arrow\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2020\/9\/negative.png?w=14&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Down\" ><\/td>\n<td><strong>BTC<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>USD 58,152.11<\/td>\n<td>-1.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><p><strong>The EGX30 fell 1.4% on Thursday<\/strong> on turnover of EGP 1.0 bn (32.1% below the 90-day average). Local investors were net buyers. The index is up 0.7% YTD.<\/p><p><strong>In the green: <\/strong>Export Development Bank (+1.2%), Sodic (+0.9%) and Elsewedy Electric (+0.6%).<\/p><p><strong>In the red: <\/strong>Eastern Company (-9.9%), CI Capital (-9.5%) and MM Group (-4.4%).<\/p>\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/air-france-klm\/\">Air France-KLM<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/airways\/\">airways<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/aviation\/\">aviation<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/british-airways\/\">British Airways<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/debt\/\">debt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/emerging-markets\/\">emerging markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/financial-markets\/\">Financial Markets<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/g7\/\">G7<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/imf\/\">IMF<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/kristalina-georgieva\/\">Kristalina Georgieva<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/lufthansa\/\">Lufthansa<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/planet-finance\/\">Planet Finance<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560983\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560983\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">12<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">AROUND THE WORLD<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/\">\r\n                            Around the World on 21 March                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Around the World on 21 March&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/&title=Around the World on 21 March\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Around+the+World+on+21+March+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2021%2F03%2F21%2Faround-the-world-on-21-march%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/around-the-world-on-21-march\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560983\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560983 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-around-the-world tag-around-the-world tag-defense tag-diplomacy tag-enterpriseam tag-ethiopia tag-foreign-ministry tag-gerd tag-israel tag-mostafa-madbouly tag-saudi-arabia tag-uae tag-us tag-water wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-07\"><\/a> <strong>Egypt is \u201cconcerned\u201d about the latest developments in the fraught negotiations <\/strong><strong>over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)<\/strong>, Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3lAqwPK\">Moustafa Madbouly said<\/a> during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unwater.org\/un-general-assembly-hold-high-level-meeting-on-water\/#:~:text=On%2018%20March%2C%20the%20UN,targets%20of%20the%202030%20Agenda.&text=The%20Opening%20Statements%20was%20delivered,representatives%20including%20a%20keynote%20speaker.\">high-level meeting on water at the UN General Assembly<\/a> on Thursday, two days after <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/b2819f6f-d128-4c07-b808-02152a89f277\">Ethiopia signaled readiness<\/a> to return to the negotiating table \u2014 just not with international mediators. Madbouly called for effective negotiations sponsored by the African Union and an active participation from the international community to reach a binding agreement before the upcoming flood season. Egypt\u2019s annual share of water is 560 cubic meters per person, well below the 1k cubic meter threshold for water scarcity, he noted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The situation in Libya and the Grand <\/strong><strong>E<\/strong><strong>thiopian Renaissance Dam were on <\/strong><strong>the agenda<\/strong> for a phone call between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, according to an <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/392w6FQ\">Ittihadiya statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>IN DIPLOMACY:<\/strong> <strong>Egypt and the US\u2019 defense relationship is \u201ccritical\u201d to the security <\/strong><strong>of the Middle East<\/strong>, Centcom Strategy, Plans and Policy Director Major General Scott Benedict said during a three day visit to Egypt which concluded Friday, according to a US embassy <a href=\"https:\/\/eg.usembassy.gov\/u-s-central-commands-major-general-benedict-visits-egypt-to-discuss-bilateral-defense-relations\/\">statement<\/a>. Benedict\u2019s visit came during <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3vGZ2wB\">joint naval exercises in the Red Sea<\/a> and a month after the US signed off on a <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/49280b8f-cdd6-41be-8ccc-b1c2391cc661\">USD 197 mn arms sale<\/a> last month, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/0ea9a95b-4753-4601-8f01-46e5053d92a0\">a rhetorical escalation<\/a> from the Biden administration over Egypt\u2019s human rights record.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also worth knowing this morning:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Houthi rebels attacked Saudi Arabia\u2019s Aramco refinery on <\/strong><strong>Friday<\/strong>, the latest escalation in the group\u2019s attempts to damage the kingdom\u2019s energy infrastructure, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2021-03-19\/houthi-rebels-say-attacked-aramco-in-riyadh-with-6-drones?sref=mmeFTDW1\">Bloomberg<\/a> reports.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The UAE and Israel are having their first diplomatic rift since normalizing <\/strong><strong>relations last year,<\/strong> with Emirati officials limiting formal contact with their Israeli counterparts and canceling a bilateral summit over Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s use of the Gulf state in his ongoing election campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/uae-said-to-shelve-israel-us-summit-plans-amid-anger-at-pms-electioneering\/\">the Times of Israel<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/d1a896bf-ce8d-4d8b-8a3a-0a14ae7c3144\">the FT<\/a> report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/around-the-world\/\">Around the World<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/defense\/\">Defense<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/diplomacy\/\">DIPLOMACY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/ethiopia\/\">Ethiopia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/foreign-ministry\/\">Foreign Ministry<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/gerd\/\">GERD<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/israel\/\">Israel<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/mostafa-madbouly\/\">Mostafa Madbouly<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/uae\/\">UAE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/us\/\">US<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/water\/\">water<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560984\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"560984\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">13<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">ON YOUR WAY OUT<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/22-mummies-to-parade-to-museum-of-civilization-on-3-april\/\">\r\n                            22 mummies to parade to museum of civilization on 3 April                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div 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  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/22-mummies-to-parade-to-museum-of-civilization-on-3-april\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/260.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"560985\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/22-mummies-to-parade-to-museum-of-civilization-on-3-april\/260-jpg-22\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/260.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"260.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/260.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/260.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560984\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560984 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-on-your-way-out tag-ancient-egypt tag-archaeology tag-culture tag-enterpriseam tag-history tag-on-your-way-out wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><a class=\"content-anchor\" id=\"tldr-story-08\"><\/a> <strong>Twenty-two mummies will make their way to their new home in the National <\/strong><strong>Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat in a parade on 3 April<\/strong>, the Tourism Ministry said in <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/311R2Za\">a statement<\/a>. This won\u2019t be the first instance of a deceased Egyptian royal parading through Cairo: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/history\/article\/colossus-ramses-statue-move-cairo-egypt-museum\">transportation of the colossal statue of Ramses II<\/a> from Ramses square to be displayed in the Egyptian Museum in 2006 drew large crowds.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/ancient-egypt\/\">Ancient Egypt<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/archaeology\/\">archaeology<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/culture\/\">culture<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/history\/\">History<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/on-your-way-out\/\">ON YOUR WAY OUT<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"560986\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"calendar\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2021\/03\/21\/your-essential-business-calendar-on-21-march-2021\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-560986\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-560986 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-calendar tag-calendar wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\t\t<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background is-style-wide\">\n\n\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mt-0 has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-normal-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\">\n\t\t\t<strong> CALENDAR<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p>March: Potential visit to Cairo by Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<p>23 March (Tuesday): The second edition of the <a href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/vf98kbgf\">Egypt Retail Summit<\/a> takes place at the Nile Ritz Carlton hotel.<\/p>\n<p>23 March (Tuesday): The British-Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) virtual conference on sustainable manufacturing in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>23 March (Tuesday): AUC Women on Boards Observatory event to launch 2020 annual monitoring report.<\/p>\n<p>25-27 March (Thursday-Saturday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.therealgate.com\/visit\/register-your-interest-to-visit\/\">The Real Gate real estate exhibition<\/a>, Egyptian International Exhibition Center, Cairo.<\/p>\n<p>29-30 March (Monday-Tuesday): <a href=\"https:\/\/arab-exchanges.org\/conference\/\">Arab Federation of Exchanges Annual Conference<\/a> 2021.<\/p>\n<p>31 March (Wednesday): Deadline to visit the moroor and get an RFID sticker affixed to your car\u2019s windshield \u2014 or run afoul of the Traffic Police.<\/p>\n<p>31 March (Wednesday): Income tax deadline for individuals. Real estate tax deadline.<\/p>\n<p>1-3 April (Thursday-Saturday): <a href=\"http:\/\/hvacregypt.com\/\">HVAC-R Egypt Expo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>6 April (Tuesday): French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Egypt working breakfast with Sovereign Fund of Egypt CEO Ayman Soliman.<\/p>\n<p>7 April (Wednesday): British-Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) webinar on digital banking and fintech.<\/p>\n<p>8-10 April (Thursday-Saturday): The TriFactory\u2019s Endurance Festival at Somabay.<\/p>\n<p>13 April (Monday): First day of Ramadan (TBC).<\/p>\n<p>25 April (Sunday): Sinai Liberation Day.<\/p>\n<p>29 April (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Sinai Liberation Day (TBC),<\/p>\n<p>29 April (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>1 May (Saturday): Labor Day (national holiday).<\/p>\n<p>2 May (Sunday): Easter Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>3 May (Monday): Sham El Nessim.<\/p>\n<p>13-15 May (Thursday-Saturday): Eid El Fitr (TBC).<\/p>\n<p>25-28 May (Tuesday-Friday): The World Economic Forum annual meeting, Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>1 June (Tuesday): The IMF will conduct a second review of targets set under the USD 5.2 bn standby loan approved in June 2020 (proposed date).<\/p>\n<p>7 June-9 June (Monday-Wednesday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.egyps.com\/\">Egypt Petroleum Show<\/a>, Egypt International Exhibition Center, New Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>17 June (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>24 June (Thursday): End of the 2020-2021 academic year (public schools).<\/p>\n<p>26-29 June (Saturday-Tuesday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebig5constructegypt.com\/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&CID=003D000002UIHn4IAH&utm_campaign=Egyp%5Bt%20postponement%20generic%20exp%20visp&utm_term&utm_content=7014G000001cG3zQAE&CNAME=Enterprise\">The Big 5 Construct Egypt<\/a>, Cairo International Convention Center, Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>30 June (Wednesday): 30 June Revolution Day.<\/p>\n<p>1 July: (Thursday): National holiday in observance of 30 June Revolution.<\/p>\n<p>30 June- 15 July: National Book Fair.<\/p>\n<p>1 July (Thursday): Large taxpayers that have not yet signed on on to the e-invoicing platform <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/61c78b1b-ec60-46e8-9760-c995c81f34b9\">will suffer a host of penalties<\/a>, including removal from large taxpayer classification, losing access to government services and business, and losing subsidies.<\/p>\n<p>19 July (Monday): Arafat Day (national holiday).<\/p>\n<p>20-23 July (Tuesday-Friday): Eid Al Adha (national holiday)<\/p>\n<p>23 July (Friday): Revolution Day (national holiday).<\/p>\n<p>5 August (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>9 August (Monday): Islamic New Year.<\/p>\n<p>12 August (Thursday): National holiday in observance of the Islamic New Year.<\/p>\n<p>16 September (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>30 September-2 October (Thursday-Saturday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.egypt-projects.com\/\">Egypt Projects 2021<\/a> expo, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>1 October (Friday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expo2020dubai.com\">Expo 2020 Dubai<\/a> opens.<\/p>\n<p>6 October (Wednesday): Armed Forces Day.<\/p>\n<p>7 October (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Armed Forces Day.<\/p>\n<p>18 October (Monday): Prophet\u2019s Birthday.<\/p>\n<p>21 October (Thursday): National holiday in observance of the Prophet\u2019s Birthday.<\/p>\n<p>28 October (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>1-12 November (Monday-Friday): <a href=\"https:\/\/ukcop26.org\/\">2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference<\/a> (COP26), Glasgow, United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>13-17 December: <a href=\"http:\/\/english.ahram.org.eg\/NewsContent\/1\/64\/396604\/Egypt\/Politics-\/Egypt-to-host-UN-anticorruption-conference-in-.aspx\">United Nations Convention against Corruption<\/a>, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>16 December (Thursday): The CBE\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>27 June - 3 July 2022 (Monday-Sunday): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidethegames.biz\/articles\/1103867\/fisu-world-university-squash-new-giza\">World University Squash Championships<\/a>, New Giza.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note to readers: <\/strong>Some national holidays may appear twice above. Since 2020, Egypt has observed most mid-week holidays on Thursdays regardless of the day on which they fall and may also move those days to Sundays. We distinguish below between the actual holiday and its observance.<\/p>\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":560964,"menu_order":0,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-560963","issue","type-issue","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"ba579394-6c27-4f64-9589-98787b1acc42","teaser":"","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/251.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Central bank leaves interest rates on hold - EnterpriseAM Egypt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Central bank leaves interest rates on hold\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EnterpriseAM Egypt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-16T03:06:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2021\/3\/251.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/central-bank-leaves-interest-rates-on-hold\/\",\"name\":\"Central bank leaves interest rates on hold - 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