{"id":682334,"date":"2026-01-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?post_type=issue&#038;p=682334"},"modified":"2026-01-21T03:49:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T03:49:05","slug":"the-end-of-custom-free-phone-imports","status":"publish","type":"issue","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/issues\/the-end-of-custom-free-phone-imports\/","title":{"rendered":"The end of custom-free phone imports"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"682336\" 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=\"682336\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/gourmet-to-temporarily-list-400-mn-shares-on-the-egx-starting-today\/\">\r\n                            Gourmet to temporarily list 400 mn shares on the EGX starting today                        <\/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\/2026\/01\/21\/gourmet-to-temporarily-list-400-mn-shares-on-the-egx-starting-today\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" 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class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"682337\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/gourmet-to-temporarily-list-400-mn-shares-on-the-egx-starting-today\/787-jpg-18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/787.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"787.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/787.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/787.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682336\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682336 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-what-were-tracking-today tag-egx tag-enterpriseam 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 style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Good morning, wonderful people. <\/strong>We have a big issue for you on this very windy Cairo morning.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Up first: No more customs-free mobile phone for you. <\/strong>The Finance Ministry has rescinded a year-old ruling that granted Egyptians a once-every-three-years exemption from customs and taxes when they bring a new smartphone into the country. In personal terms, it\u2019s mildly annoying \u2014 and it\u2019s also very smart policy, wiping out a grey market in smuggled handsets. We have the full rundown on everything you need to know, whether you\u2019re a resident of Egypt, an Egyptian living abroad, here for a business trip, or coming in as a tourist.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Cabinet is going to get a lot of pushback on this <\/strong>\u2014 and while it sucks for us individually, we hope they stick to their guns.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>AND- A big warning to Planet Startup and anyone else who has incorporated in the <\/strong><strong>Netherlands in the last decade: <\/strong>A Dutch court just threw into question the big OCI Global \/ Orascom Construction merger. It\u2019s a transaction that\u2019s been widely cheered in MENA, but a Dutch judge thinks it smacks of conflict of interest \u2014 and that it might somehow inconvenience a retail shareholder who might *gasp* have to open an ADX brokerage account.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\">^^ We have the full rundown on these stories and more in this morning\u2019s news well, below.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>***<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/enterpriseam-egypt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WISH THIS MORNING\u2019S ISSUE was a podcast? We\u2019ve got you. Tap or click here<\/a><\/strong> to listen to Morning Drive, a 10-minute version of today\u2019s issue crafted for you to enjoy with your morning coffee, while getting the kids ready for school, <strong>or while stomping around the house wondering where the [redacted] you left your [redacted] reading glasses<\/strong>.<br>\n<strong>***<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>AND-<\/strong><strong> Gaze into your crystal ball and tell us \u2014 how do you feel about 20206?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/D7K5RXP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tap or click here<\/a> to take our annual EnterpriseAM Executive Sentiment Survey and let us know what you think about:<\/p><ul>\n<li>Whether business conditions will improve in 2026;<\/li>\n<li>The biggest issue your business faces today;<\/li>\n<li>What you think AI will mean for your company;<\/li>\n<li>Where you see the EGP vs the USD this year;<\/li>\n<li>And more\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>PSA-<\/strong> <strong>Banks will be closed on Thursday, 29 January in observance of Police Day<\/strong>, the CBE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EgyptianCabinet\/posts\/pfbid02EQ5S51CoLDot7fkBcDWqtry4oumBYRFMXKc7UzHtmBCXekB1u1ByMpYvtEFozG4Tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> yesterday. The public and private sectors will also be off for the day.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>WEATHER- <\/strong>Cairo is in for dusty winds and a 20% chance of rain. Look for the mercury to rise to 22\u00b0C with an overnight low of 15\u00b0C, according to our favorite weather app.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">Happening today<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><a id=\"wwtt2\"><\/a> <strong>I<\/strong><strong>t\u2019s da<\/strong><strong>y three of the <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/meetings\/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Economic Forum Annual Meeting<\/a><\/strong><strong> in Davos \u2014 <\/strong><strong>and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi<\/strong><strong> is set to take the stage. <\/strong>El Sisi has landed in Switzerland and is set to give a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/meetings\/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026\/sessions\/special-address-by-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-president-of-egypt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special address<\/a> to forum attendees in just a few hours. Shortly after El Sisi takes the stage US President Donald Trump will deliver his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/meetings\/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026\/sessions\/special-address-by-donald-j-trump-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-49a709be7a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special address<\/a> \u2014 which we\u2019re waiting with equal amounts of curiosity and apprehension.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>The two leaders are set to meet on the sidelines of the forum<\/strong>, according to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Egy.Pres.Spokesman\/posts\/pfbid02mQsnouoafowQBYceGES2gBuVQ7Q5dAnUgFwbn99HKXiQkKYXQQE2JebqpwLciqTEl?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZbpQuDj6edVURiZ4J012H7zSDI5xX9mfTesmKDHt80nda4mAGxko-WLirFFXpoKtzdMdA12nsQBUp2-KHfzp-dUP63NRBc5WPIdEwvJvZM2-EPjUVvXXGcfYR0NOf_TQqsjhH4Tjh64VWP81j0ajzwTVOKL63QkvxrbToLFKgCARXDG6aN84-paFiHOe3v-bw8&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ittihadiya statement<\/a>. We expect the two sides to discuss Trump\u2019s proposal to <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/18\/trump-throws-weight-behind-egypt-on-gerd-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mediate<\/a> the resolution of the Egypt-Ethiopia GERD dispute.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>On day two of the forum, Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib took to <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/videos\/2026-01-20\/egypt-trade-min-sees-opportunity-in-supply-chain-shifts-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a><\/strong><strong> to <\/strong><strong>plug the country\u2019s reform agenda<\/strong>, saying that \u201cthe numbers are telling, when you look at reserves, when you look at the remittances of Egyptians working abroad jumping from USD 18 bn last year to USD 37 bn, the reserves exceed USD 51 bn to date.\u201d El Khatib also pointed to inflation falling from a peak of 38% to 12.3% and efforts to promote the private sector.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Additionally, the minister argued that \u201cglobal trends and shifts in the supply chain [are] a positive <\/strong><strong>dynamic for Egypt<\/strong>,\u201d pointing to the country\u2019s geographic position between continents, freetrade agreements, and competitiveness.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>ON THE SIDELINES- <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EgyptianCabinet\/posts\/pfbid0k7XHaXaMNCShvmyhnA6FzqKF1FBDiH8Tt8yAompEa2ftKivRPfmFbgsrSMeYLy3sl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">El Khatib<\/a><\/strong><strong> and Finance Minister <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EgyptianCabinet\/posts\/pfbid02nv8q75UcGyUKCUqNKpNnALcGQWUWrPW8CFKEZry24M4tLhEiiyMke77Wk7pekL41l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ahmed Kouchouk<\/a><\/strong><strong> met with <\/strong><strong>ACWA Power CEO Marco Arcelli<\/strong>, who confirmed that ACWA has bid for three upcoming mega-desalination plants to be tendered under the Public-Private Partnership model in the coming weeks.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">Happening tomorrow<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>The search for the perfect executive: <\/strong>Egyptian-Swiss Business Circle and SwissCham Egypt will host a webinar on the future of talent and leadership tomorrow featuring Boyden executives from Cairo and Zurich.The discussion will touch on how organizations in the Middle East and Europe are rethinking executive pipelines to identify \"tomorrow's leaders.\u201d The webinar will start at 10am and run until 11:30am. You can find the <a href=\"https:\/\/events.teams.microsoft.com\/event\/c720b826-b61d-4ca9-be5f-38dbb27077a8@dbc5915f-bca3-4990-bc41-524d0cdc750d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">link to register<\/a> on SwissCham Egypt\u2019s LinkedIn.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">Staying on target<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><a id=\"wwtt3\"><\/a> <strong>Egypt wants to boost financial inclusion among adults to 80% by FY <\/strong><strong>2029-30<\/strong>, up from the 76.3% rate recorded in the last fiscal year, according to a document from a government document seen by EnterpriseAM.<\/p><p><strong>But the targets reveal a gro<\/strong><strong>wing discrepancy \u2014 progress for women <\/strong><strong>is<\/strong><strong> projected to grow at only half the speed of the general adult population.<\/strong> The target for women is set at 72% \u2014 coming into the system at a rate that\u2019s about half the speed of the general population. It\u2019s the same story for those aged 15-35, where the inclusion rate is projected to grow by 0.5 percentage points annually to 56.5% by the end of June 2030.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>MNT-Halan CEO Mounir Nakhla <\/strong><strong>tells us t<\/strong><strong>he gap is largely a paperwork problem.<\/strong> Women are often more intimidated by traditional bank branches, making the rollout of digital signatures an important milestone for closing the gap. In the microfinance space \u2014 where digital-first onboarding is more common \u2014 women already outpace men.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>** Nakhla took the stage only yesterday at Davos to talk about <\/strong><strong>Women at the Finance <\/strong><strong>Frontier. <\/strong>You can check out the session <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/meetings\/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026\/sessions\/women-at-the-finance-frontier\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">Watch this space<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><a id=\"wwtt1\"><\/a> <strong>IPO WATCH \u2014 The EGX\u2019s listing committee approved the temporary listing of <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/18\/we-received-eur-1-bn-from-the-eu-over-the-weekend-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gourmet<\/a><\/strong>, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/777.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bulletin<\/a>. Some 400 mn shares with a nominal value of EGP 0.25 will be listed on the bourse starting today, bringing the company\u2019s issued capital to EGP 100 mn.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Look for Gourmet shares to start trading next month <\/strong>under the ticket GOUR.CA. The temporary listing approval is a standard box-ticking procedure as our favorite grocer marches down the road to becoming a publicly traded company.<\/p><hr style=\"height: 2px; border-width: 0; color: gray; background-color: gray;\"><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><a id=\"wwtt4\"><\/a> <strong>SHIPPING \u2014<\/strong> <strong>CMA CGM is signalling caution about the return to the Red <\/strong><strong>Sea shipping lane<\/strong>, after it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cma-cgm.com\/news\/5293\/fal-1-fal-3-and-mex-to-operate-via-the-cape-of-good-hope%5C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> it will reroute vessels on its French-Asia Line 1, French-Asia Line 2, and Mediterranean Club Express back through the Cape of Good Hope. The company cited a \u201ccomplex and uncertain international context\u201d in its statement, but did not explain the exact drivers of the decision. Its Indamex Service, though, will continue going through the Suez Canal.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>The decision, which comes after the French shipping giant tested Red Sea transits for the three affected services in 4Q 2025. Maersk has <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/18\/we-received-eur-1-bn-from-the-eu-over-the-weekend-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">also returned to the canal<\/a>, we reported earlier this week, rerouting its MECL service connecting India and the Middle East to the US East Coast. It\u2019s not just security concerns that the big shipping lines weigh when they debate whether to reactivate or mothball a line \u2014 demand for many lines is already saturated, and bringing back fresh capacity out-of-step with demand could push freight rates down.<\/p><hr style=\"height: 2px; border-width: 0; color: gray; background-color: gray;\"><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\">Get <b style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Enterprise<\/b> daily<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><p class=\"mb-10\">The roundup of news and trends that move your markets and shape corporate agendas delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p><p><a class=\"btn-green px-3 d-flex align-items-center\" href=\"\/egypt\/en\/user\/NewsLetters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" type=\"button \">Subscribe here<\/a><\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>** DID YOU KNOW that we cover <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/ksa\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saudi Arabia<\/a><\/strong><strong>, the <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/uae\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UAE<\/a><\/strong><strong> and the <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/mena-india\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MENA-India<\/a><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/mena-india\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Corridor<\/a><\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>** Were you forwarded this email?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/user\/news-letters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tap or click here<\/a> to get your own copy delivered every weekday before 7am Cairo time \u2014 without charge.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">The big story abroad<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Is \u201cSell America\u201d back? <\/strong>A sharp selloff hit Wall Street last night, as US President Donald Trump stood his ground on plans to take over Greenland despite European opposition.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>All three Wall Street indices fell to their lowest since October<\/strong>, with the S&amp;P 500 down 2.1%. At the same time: The USD slid 0.9% against a basket of six peers, gold surged to a record high, and long-term US yields hit a four-month high.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Meanwhile, a historic rout in Japanese bonds<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/68349aa9-9b4e-44a2-abd4-f1964308cf29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sent yields above 4%<\/a><\/strong> for the first time ever on concerns over the country\u2019s fiscal health, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for a snap election which could hand her a mandate to pursue stimulus plans, including the removal of a food sales tax.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>Adding fuel to the fire: <\/strong>Danish pension fund AkademikerPension said it will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-01-20\/danish-pension-fund-akademikerpension-to-exit-us-treasuries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exit<\/a> US Treasuries by the end of the month on the back of concerns that the current administration has created too many credit risks.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>What to watch:<\/strong> Trump will be landing in Davos today, where he is set to schedule a few meetings to discuss Greenland.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>ALSO- Netflix is tightening its screws in the Warner Bros takeover race: <\/strong>The streamer is converting its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery into an allcash offer, matching one key advantage offered by Paramount Skydance\u2019s Gulf-backed bid, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-01-20\/netflix-sweetens-warner-bros-terms-to-all-cash-in-bidding-war\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a> reports, citing a filing. Netflix had previously proposed USD 27.75 per share using a mix of banknotes and stock for Warner\u2019s studio and streaming assets. Investors are set to vote on the transaction in April.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2024\/5\/2503.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>*** It\u2019s Hardhat day \u2014 your weekly briefing of all things infrastructure in Egypt:<\/strong> EnterpriseAM\u2019s industry vertical focuses each Wednesday on infrastructure, covering everything from energy, water, transportation, and urban development, as well as social infrastructure such as health and education.<\/p><p style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.15; orphans: 2; widows: 2; text-align: left;\"><strong>In today\u2019s issue: <\/strong>We look at what startups are doing to make last mile delivery more efficient.<\/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\/egx\/\">EGX<\/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=\"682338 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\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=\"682338\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/682338\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682338\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682338 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somabaymun.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/595.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p><div class=\"grouped-tags\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:700\">Education with perspective.<\/span><span> At Somabay, learning is about opening minds and shaping perspective. On 23 January, SBMUN will bring young voices together for dialogue, diplomacy, and shared understanding, set within a destination that encourages curiosity, confidence, and a wider view of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\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=\"682339\" 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=\"682339\">\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\">The Big Story Today<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/\">\r\n                            Egypt ends phone import customs exemption to boost local industry                        <\/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\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/\" 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\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/')\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/\">\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=No more exempting imported mobile phones from customs&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/&title=No more exempting imported mobile phones from customs\">\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=No+more+exempting+imported+mobile+phones+from+customs+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2026%2F01%2F21%2Fno-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs%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\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/7\/1632.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"682340\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/no-more-exempting-imported-mobile-phones-from-customs\/1632-jpg-14\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/7\/1632.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1632.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/7\/1632.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/7\/1632.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682339\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682339 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-big-story-today tag-customs tag-enterpriseam tag-tech tag-the-big-story-today tag-trade wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Your chance to bring in a phone from abroad without being charged <\/strong><strong>customs fees is now gone<\/strong>, after the Madbouly government <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EgyptianCabinet\/posts\/pfbid07LkxndMfEjTpqjkYCAL2t1v73i57b7tCAxMV1pmKsSfuAtiJ9z6aWRPxeru4vSc1l\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">ended the exemption<\/a>, which granted Egyptians the right to bring in one handset without customs or taxes (equivalent to 37.5% of the customs value of the device) every three years. This comes almost a year after the policy on personal mobile-phone imports was first introduced. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The message is clear: Buy local. <\/strong>The government is signaling that the local smartphone industry can now meet domestic demand, with 15 international smartphone players now assembling here. Together, they have a production capacity of c. 20 mn units a year. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What does this mean for Egyptians living abroad, but home for a visit? <\/strong>Egyptian expats will get a 90-day exemption from the customs and fees, renewable with each visit, provided they contact a dedicated hotline to activate the grace period, Customs Authority Head Ahmad Amawi tells EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/enterpriseam-egypt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/11\/780.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>As for tourists and folks in town for business?<\/strong> They\u2019ll automatically get a 90-day exemption from the customs and fees when they purchase a local tourist line \u2014 the exemption period resets with every visit, Amawi says. Anyone who keeps using their international SIM card while visiting will not be subject to fees.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What\u2019s next? <\/strong>You can pay the necessary customs and fees for importing a mobile through the Telephony app or using digital payment methods offered by banks and e-wallets and installment payment will soon be available. Users will have a 90-day grace period from the device's first activation date to pay what they owe.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Our take<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It\u2019s frustrating personally, but it\u2019s also smart policy: <\/strong>Why should grey- and black-market retailers (and global handset makers) have a back-door to one of the world\u2019s most populous markets? Made-in-Egypt goods \u2014 from shoes to clothing, office supplies, and ball bearings \u2014 are increasingly the purchase of choice for Egyptian consumers and businesses adjusting to our new exchange-rate reality. By restricting the flow of individual imports \u2014 often resold through informal channels \u2014 the Finance Ministry is capturing taxes for the treasury and giving a boost to businesses that have invested in assembly capacity (and legit resale relationships). <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n\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\/customs\/\">customs<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/tech\/\">TECH<\/a>\n               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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 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 OCI halts Orascom merger vote following court order, proceeds with ammonia sale                        <\/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\/2026\/01\/21\/dutch-court-slams-brakes-on-orascom-merger\/\" 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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data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/3\/2253.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/3\/2253.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682342\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682342 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-ma-watch tag-enterpriseam tag-ma-watch tag-oci-global wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>A Dutch court just threw a spanner in Orascom\u2019s works \u2014 and it\u2019s a warning to every <\/strong><strong>Egyptian company that set up shop in the Netherlands. <\/strong>Dutch-listed fertilizer giant OCI Global will remove its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/12\/10\/orascom-construction-board-approves-merger-with-oci-global-to-form-new-abu-dhabi-based-infrastructure-giant\/?repeat=w3tc\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">proposed merger<\/a> with EGX- and ADX-listed Orascom Construction from the agenda of tomorrow\u2019s shareholder meeting after a ruling from the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal that effectively blocks the transaction, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/763.pdf\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">press release (pdf)<\/a> and a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl\/details?id=ECLI:NL:GHAMS:2026:118\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">court ruling<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The court sided with minority shareholders<\/strong>, giving credence to their allegations of conflicts of interest as well as their claim that investor protections on the ADX are somehow lesser. The court ruled that <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/uae\/2025\/08\/13\/this-morning-orascom-constructions-shareholders-greenlight-adx-move-opec-lifts-2026-oil-demand-on-strong-economic-growth\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">moving Orascom\u2019s listing to the ADX<\/a> could harm their interests, saying that most Dutch brokers do not offer access to the Abu Dhabi exchange. That would, the plaintiffs argued, effectively force retail investors to sell at a loss or navigate complex bureaucratic hurdles to continue as shareholders.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The court also found it concerning that OCI\u2019s CEO handled the negotiations with <\/strong><strong>Orascom<\/strong> while also being a non-executive board member at Orascom \u2014 and felt that the board was simply following Nassef Sawiris\u2019 preferences. And it zeroed in on a standard disclaimer in a Beltone report on the transaction that notes the work wasn\u2019t legally independent research, but for marketing purposes. OCI used the Beltone report to defend the valuation in the transaction. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What got blocked: <\/strong>The merger would have seen OCI shareholders swap their stock for roughly 97.8 mn Orascom Construction shares at an exchange ratio of 0.46 Orascom share for each OCI share, based on equity values of USD 1.52 bn for Orascom and USD 1.35 bn for OCI. The board formally approved issuing 97.2 mn new Orascom shares at a USD 12.79 premium, with the remaining 561.8k shares coming from OCI\u2019s existing stake in the company. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Why it matters: <\/strong>This would have seen the two Nassef Sawiris-backed firms combine into a single Abu Dhabi-based infrastructure and investment platform. If the merger ultimately goes through, the combined group would start with a liquidity position that could surpass USD 1.5 bn, giving it substantial room to scale its infrastructure strategy, according to a CI Capital note seen by EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What was not blocked: <\/strong>Shareholders will still vote on the sale of OCI Ammonia Holding, allowing the company to raise cash even as the merger is frozen. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What\u2019s next:<\/strong> Two temporary independent directors now oversee the board, giving them veto power over any merger. The Sawiris family must either revise the offer to satisfy the new directors or abandon the transaction and pursue another strategy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Our take<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This is the downside of setting up shop in an offshore jurisdiction<\/strong>, as many Egyptian companies have done in the Netherlands in the past 7-10 years. (We\u2019re looking at you in particular, Planet Startup.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The mere fact that a jurisdiction is in the West doesn\u2019t mean the legal system will be any <\/strong><strong>more amenable to your plans than ours would have been.<\/strong> Faster? Sure. Better-equipped to handle vanilla disputes? Yes. Recognize and understand all of the provisions of a modern shareholders\u2019 agreement? Yup. But also \u2026 European. It\u2019s a jurisdiction that takes minority shareholder rights seriously, where activist investors are a thing, and there the letter of the law is enforced in a \u2014 naturally enough \u2014 European way. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In this case, that means living with the view of a Dutch judge<\/strong> who apparently believes opening an ADX brokerage account is akin to being asked to learn how to do particle physics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>What Orascom is trying to do here wouldn\u2019t cause a single raised eyebrow in MENA<\/strong>, but when you set up a BV to get seamless dividend management, consistent capital gains treatments, the honoring of complex shareholder agreements, and all the rest? Well, you also get the full Dutch judicial system alongside a requirement that you have substantial business presence in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Sound smart: <\/strong>Many big Egyptian names have set up shop in the Netherlands in the past decade to capture revenues offshore during the last two currency crises, be more tax efficient, and ensure that complex, modern shareholder agreements are enforceable. A handful of big companies like OC paved the way, but the Netherlands became a destination of choice for Egyptian startups, in particular. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n\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\/ma-watch\/\">M&amp;A Watch<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/oci-global\/\">OCI Global<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            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id=\"post-682344\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682344 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-manufacturing tag-cement tag-enterpriseam tag-manufacturing tag-suez-canal-economic-zone wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"> <strong>USD 1.3 bn worth of new projects are heading the Suez Canal Economic <\/strong><strong>Zone\u2019s way<\/strong>, after they were <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EgyptianCabinet\/posts\/pfbid02B3FDiD7mHM2skjAmoCnWHTbHcE7Vfu84CzpUGtwYUES5FRf35NuZTtGoif7H8EHKl\" rel=\"noopener\">greenlit<\/a> by the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>#1- A USD 1 bn project for the production of pesticides, chlorine, and alkali products<\/strong> \u2014 all core chemical inputs used across several sectors, including agriculture, water treatment, food processing, and manufacturing. This new plant will help us slash our import bill, seeing that we currently rely on imports to meet local demand for these products.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>#2- A USD 291 mn tire manufacturing plant<\/strong>, which would support the government\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/05\/08\/the-automotive-industry-development-program-is-getting-a-facelift\/\" rel=\"noopener\">push to<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/05\/08\/the-automotive-industry-development-program-is-getting-a-facelift\/\" rel=\"noopener\">localize<\/a> the production of automotive components. The localization of tires and other auto parts is high on the government\u2019s list, especially as it looks to position the country as an automotive manufacturing hub.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>PLUS- Three new cement factories will be up and running within a year<\/strong> after securing the green light from the group, each with a single production line. The group also approved the expansion of several other cement plants. The new licenses and expansions are expected to equip local manufacturers for a spike in demand in preparation for Gaza\u2019s reconstruction and help stabilize prices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>We also expect local demand for cement to pick up in the short term<\/strong>, driven by the implementation of massive national projects and the reinstatement of the 2008 building law, which will contribute to stimulating private construction activity. Demand is also on the rise from regional and international markets, which creates significant prospects for local factories to boost exports, Federation of Egyptian Industries Egyptian Cement Division Chairman Ahmed Shireen Korayem has previously <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/inside_industry\/cement-industry-regains-momentum-with-govt-support\/\" rel=\"noopener\">told us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>** The statement didn\u2019t disclose any details about the owners of the projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>AND- Turkey\u2019s Eroglu Global Holding will <\/strong><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1AstFufbv2\/\" rel=\"noopener\">set up<\/a><\/strong><strong> its fourth project in Qantara West <\/strong><strong>Industrial Zone<\/strong>, a USD 175 mn carton and packaging factory. The 70k sqm facility is set to export 50% of its output and create 2k direct jobs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n\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\/cement\/\">cement<\/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                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/suez-canal-economic-zone\/\">Suez Canal Economic Zone<\/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=\"682346 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\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=\"682346\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/682346\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682346\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682346 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sodic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/11\/264.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\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=\"682347\" 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=\"682347\">\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\">LAST NIGHT\u2019S TALK SHOWS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/\">\r\n                            Talk shows take on the new mobile phone import rules                        <\/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\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/\" 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\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/')\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/\">\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=Talk shows take on the new mobile phone import rules&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/&title=Talk shows take on the new mobile phone import rules\">\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=Talk+shows+take+on+the+new+mobile+phone+import+rules+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2026%2F01%2F21%2Ftalk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules%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\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/793.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"682348\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/talk-shows-take-on-the-new-mobile-phone-import-rules\/793-jpg-15\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/793.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"793.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/793.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/793.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682347\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682347 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-last-nights-talk-shows tag-customs tag-enterpriseam tag-last-nights-talk-shows tag-trade wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Talk shows last night were fixated on the government\u2019s decision to scrap <\/strong><strong>customs exemptions for mobile phones <\/strong>brought in by travelers from abroad.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The House is <\/strong><strong>pushing back:<\/strong> House Budget Committee Deputy Chair Abdel Moneim Emam slammed the decision during a call with Lamees El Hadidi on Al Sora (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dQVZpyez3vM\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">watch, runtime: 16:49<\/a>). Emam argued that Egyptians living abroad should be granted an exemption for at least one handset per year as a perk for their contribution to the economy. He highlighted a massive price discrepancy between locally-assembled handsets and those sold in Gulf markets. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The gov\u2019t defe<\/strong><strong>nse \u2014 it\u2019s to support local industry:<\/strong> Deputy Finance Minister for Taxes Sherif Al Kilani defended the move to El Hadidi, urging a shift in focus toward supporting domestic manufacturing. Al Kilani rejected the price-gap claims, asserting that domestic units are significantly cheaper than their imported counterparts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The industry stats<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong> Around 92% of the mobile brands purchased by Egyptians are now manufactured locally, NTRA spokesperson Mohamed Ibrahim told Yahduth Fi Misr\u2019s Sherif Amer (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iUTvRhlXxZE\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">watch, runtime: 11:02<\/a>). The spokesperson noted that 50% of all handsets sold in Egypt last year were made in Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>** Check out our full coverage of the decision in the news well, above.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n\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\/customs\/\">customs<\/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\/trade\/\">trade<\/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=\"682349\" 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=\"682349\">\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\">Also on our Radar<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/\">\r\n                            HDP launches EGP 50 bn Grand Lane residential development in New Cairo                        <\/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\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/\" 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\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/')\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/\">\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=HDP launches EGP 50 bn Grand Lane residential development in New Cairo&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/\">\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\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/&title=HDP launches EGP 50 bn Grand Lane residential development in New Cairo\">\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=HDP+launches+EGP+50+bn+Grand+Lane+residential+development+in+New+Cairo+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2026%2F01%2F21%2Fhdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo%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\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/683393.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"683393\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/hdp-launches-egp-50-bn-grand-lane-residential-development-in-new-cairo\/grand-lane-housing-and-development-properties-hdp-residential-real-estate-new-cairo-egypt-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/683393.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"Grand Lane - Housing and Development Properties - HDP - residential - real estate - New Cairo - Egypt (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/683393.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/internal\/683393.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682349\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682349 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-also-on-our-radar tag-also-on-our-radar tag-enterpriseam tag-real-estate wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"> <strong>The Ho<\/strong><strong>using and Development Bank\u2019s Housing and Development Properties <\/strong><strong>(HDP) launched a EGP 50 bn residential project in New Cairo<\/strong>, Grand Lane, according to a statement. The 98-feddan project offers a range of residential units, including apartments, townhouses, and standalone villas. The project is offering long-term payment plans stretching up to 14 years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links <\/strong>to our background as well as external sources.)<\/p>\n\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\/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\/real-estate\/\">real estate<\/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=\"682351\" class=\"issue-section markets\">\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=\"682351\">\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\">PLANET FINANCE<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/two-speed-china-exports-fly-corporate-profits-lag\/\">\r\n                            China\u2019s export boom masks a domestic squeeze                        <\/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\" 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       \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/two-speed-china-exports-fly-corporate-profits-lag\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/779.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"682352\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/21\/two-speed-china-exports-fly-corporate-profits-lag\/779-jpg-13\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/779.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"779.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/779.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2026\/1\/779.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682351\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682351 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-planet-finance tag-china tag-enterpriseam tag-financial-markets 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 style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>China\u2019s exports hit record highs in 2025, generating a<\/strong> <strong>USD 1.2 tn trade surplus<\/strong>, even as exporters faced an uphill battle during the year to tap new markets amid freefalling US orders. The shift, exporters tell <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/society-equity\/us-orders-fade-chinese-salespeople-face-tough-grind-new-markets-2026-01-20\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>, came at a hefty price tag in exchange for smaller, less profitable orders and more work, despite headline numbers suggesting a thriving global trade picture.<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The export growth followed a pivot away from the US after President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong><strong> tariff<\/strong><strong> hikes cut American orders by about a third.<\/strong> Chinese exporters shifted to markets in South America and Africa, where buyers often negotiated tougher terms and smaller orders. Meanwhile, industrial bottom lines fell 13.1% in November, the fastest decline in over a year.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">A two-speed economy<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Strong exports masked weaknesses at home:<\/strong> While China\u2019s GDP grew 5% during the year, investment shrank, and consumption remained sluggish, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-01-20\/china-unveils-loan-incentives-to-boost-investment-consumption\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a> notes. Government incentives, including a USD 72 bn loan-backing facility and interest subsidies for SMEs, aim to boost domestic spending and private investment. Still, interventionist policies, overcapacity, and declining household demand have left industrial profitability and wages under pressure.<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\">Frontline realities<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Manufacturers in China are struggling to keep their factories running<\/strong>, with widespread job cuts leaving many factories nearly empty, according to the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/30a36338-b1ed-473f-b93b-a0d555609736\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial Times<\/a>. The number of struggling companies \u2014 or \u201czombie companies\u201d \u2014 has reached 12% of the total registered companies, more than doubling since 2018, according to a study by Natixis\u2019 chief Asia-Pacific economist, Alicia Garc\u00eda-Herrero.<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The contrast highlights China\u2019s economic divide<\/strong>, as exports surge while domestic industries struggle, leaving workers and households with stagnant wages, layoffs, and few prospects, the FT claims. Analysts expect the divide to widen as Beijing doubles down on its export-led growth by supporting its high-tech sector to compete with the US \u2014 allowing the housing market to keep deflating.<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">(<strong>** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links<\/strong> to our background and outside sources.)<\/p><p class=\"tag-border-left\"> MARKETS THIS MORNING- <\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Asia-Pacific markets are broadly in the red once again this morning, weighed down by Washington\u2019s threats of imposing tariffs on European countries over Greenland. Investors continued to pour into safe havens, driving up gold prices even further. The Hang Seng Index and mainland China\u2019s CSI 300 are just marginally in the green, while other markets including Japan\u2019s Nikkei and South Korea\u2019s Kospi are trading down. Futures indicate Wall Street is in for a better start to trading, with Dow Jones, S&amp;P 500, and Nasdaq futures trading up. <\/p><div class=\"stock-ticker-panel\">\n<table class=\"table stock-ticker-table markets-table\">\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>EGX30<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">45,905<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+1.9% (YTD: +9.7%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>USD (CBE)<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Buy 47.43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Sell 47.56<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>USD (CIB<\/strong><strong>) <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Buy 47.44<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">Sell 47.54<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-none\">\n<td class=\"td-list-none\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Interest rates (CBE)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">20.00% deposit<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">21.00% lending<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-none\">\n<td class=\"td-list-none\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Tadawul<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">10,912<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">0.0% (YTD: +4.0%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>ADX<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">10,196<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.3% (YTD: +2.0%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>DFM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">6,375<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.5% (YTD: +5.4%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>S&amp;P 500<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">6,797<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-2.1% (YTD: -0.7%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>FTSE 100<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">10,127<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-0.7% (YTD: +2.0%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Euro Stoxx 50<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">5,892<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-0.6% (YTD: +1.7%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Brent crude<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 64.16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-1.2%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Natural gas (Nymex) <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 3.88<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-0.8%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>Gold <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 4,838<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+1.5%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-down\">\n<td class=\"td-list-down\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets1\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets1\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>BTC<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">USD 88,917<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">-4.0% (YTD: +1.5%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>S&amp;P Egypt Sovereign Bond Index<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">1,002.79<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+0.1% (YTD: +1.0%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-none\">\n<td class=\"td-list-none\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>S&amp;P MENA Bond &amp; Sukuk<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">151.64<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">0.0% (YTD: -0.2%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tr-row-up\">\n<td class=\"td-list-up\">\n<p><svg class=\"e-icon e-TypeMarkets11\"><use xlink:href=\"#e-TypeMarkets11\"><\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\"><strong>VIX (Volatility Index)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">20.09<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" style=\"border-right-style:solid;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;border-bottom-border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-left-border-right-border-left-width:1pt;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1pt;width:139.2pt;border-top-border-bottom-style:solid\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;text-align:left\">+6.6% (YTD: +34.4%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><p class=\"tag-border-left\">THE CLOSING BELL-<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The EGX30 rose 1.9% at <\/strong><strong>yesterday\u2019s<\/strong><strong> close<\/strong> on turnover of EGP 7.5 bn (39.7% above the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 9.7% YTD.<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In the green: <\/strong>Telecom Egypt (+8.4%), E-finance (+7.0%), and ADIB (+5.3%).<\/p><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In the red: <\/strong>Egypt Aluminum (-2.6%), Arabian Cement (-1.6%), and Juhayna (-1.4%).<\/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\/china\/\">China<\/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\/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<div class=\"alignfull hardhat vertical-section wide-section wp-block-group issue-section\" id=\"682353\">\r\n    <div class=\"issue-section__content\">\r\n        <div class=\"alignwide wp-block-columns\">\r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-column sidebar-vertical-info\" style=\"flex-basis:22.8%\">\r\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\r\n                                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/resources.inktankir.com\/internal\/27467.svg\" style=\"width:80%\" alt=\"\" >\r\n                                    <\/figure>\r\n                <p>\r\n                    Our weekly deep-dive into infrastructure in Egypt.                <\/p>\r\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full mt-0 mb-0 img-white-bg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/resources.inktankir.com\/internal\/27479.svg\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>\r\n                <p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color\">\r\n                    Published every Wednesday in EnterpriseAM.                <\/p>\r\n                <div class=\"wp-block-buttons mt-0\">\r\n                    <div class=\"wp-block-button\">\r\n                        <a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/hardhat\/\">\r\n                            Read Hardhat                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-column issue-section\">\r\n                <div class=\"story-section\">\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\">HARDHAT<\/p>\r\n                        <h3 class=\"story-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/hardhats\/why-the-last-mile-is-still-egypts-biggest-delivery-problem-and-how-startups-are-trying-to-fix-it\/\"> \r\n                            Why the last mile is still Egypt\u2019s biggest delivery problem \u2014 and how startups are trying to fix it<\/a>\r\n                        <\/h3>\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\/hardhats\/why-the-last-mile-is-still-egypts-biggest-delivery-problem-and-how-startups-are-trying-to-fix-it\/\" 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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But the system still often breaks down just before the doorstep. The last mile \u2014 the final handoff from courier to customer \u2014 remains one of Egypt\u2019s most expensive and unreliable legs of the delivery process. And for e-commerce platforms and couriers, it is where margins go to die.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The structural drag on deliveries<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe last mile is notoriously difficult in Egypt,\u201d<\/strong> Pargo Egypt Senior Operations Manager Adham Elmolla tells EnterpriseAM. He pointed to vague addresses, dense traffic, and customers who are rarely home during delivery windows. The result, he says, is a cycle of missed deliveries, repeated attempts, and constant phone coordination between couriers and customers \u2014 something we think all our readers have had more than enough experience with. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Informal housing compounds the issue. <\/strong>Without reliable addressing, drivers depend on landmarks and live directions \u2014 adding time and fuel costs to every drop-off. In gated communities, security procedures often prevent drivers from entering freely, creating further delays. Each failed delivery attempt adds direct costs for couriers and indirect costs for retailers, from customer complaints to returns and lost trust.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The pivot away from the front door<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>To break that cycle, some logistics players are abandoning home delivery altogether. <\/strong>One approach comes from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/imbox.solutions\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Imbox<\/a>, which installs automated smart lockers that act as shared pickup and drop-off points. Instead of shipping to a home address, customers select a nearby locker during checkout. \u201cWe are solving the last-mile delivery bottleneck,\u201d IMbox founder and CEO Ayman Hendawy tells EnterpriseAM. The core problem, he explains, is failed delivery attempts. \u201cFor logistics companies, those failures are a major cost driver. For customers, they are a constant source of frustration,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Once a courier deposits a parcel, the customer receives a QR code and can collect it at <\/strong><strong>any time.<\/strong> Hendawy says Imbox lockers are currently installed in malls, gas stations, gated communities, and transport hubs \u2014 locations designed to fit naturally into daily routines. \u201cFor logistics firms, this replaces brick-and-mortar offices with automated stations,\u201d Hendawy says, adding that local manufacturing allows Imbox to customize and scale faster than imported locker systems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>He also frames lockers as a sustainability play.<\/strong> By consolidating multiple home deliveries into a single drop-off point, Hendawy says Imbox cuts courier mileage, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions \u2014 turning last-mile efficiency into a way to make the sector more environmentally sustainable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">Click-and-collect via neighborhood shops<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pargo.eg\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Pargo<\/a><\/strong><strong> is tackling the same problem from a different angle <\/strong>\u2014 delivering parcels to neighborhood shops instead of lockers or homes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe idea is to decouple the courier from the customer,\u201d<\/strong> Elmolla explains. Couriers deliver to a verified business location \u2014 a Pargo Point \u2014 ensuring first-time delivery success. Customers then collect their parcels at their convenience, using a one-time PIN sent via SMS, email, or WhatsApp.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Pargo\u2019s network includes convenience chains, fintech hubs, and local retailers.<\/strong> For shop owners, Elmolla says, the value goes beyond logistics. \u201cThirty to fifty percent of customers who come in to collect a parcel end up making a purchase,\u201d he says, turning delivery into a footfall driver rather than a disruption.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">What\u2019s working \u2014 and what\u2019s holding things back<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Both models share the same advantage of consolidation. <\/strong>Delivering dozens of parcels to one location is cheaper, faster, and more predictable than door-to-door delivery. But scaling in Egypt comes with unique constraints.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hendawy says Imbox\u2019s biggest challenge has been market education.<\/strong> \u201cSmart lockers are standard in Europe and the GCC, but they are still new to the Egyptian market,\u201d he says. Convincing retailers, property managers, and developers that shared delivery infrastructure is essential \u2014 not optional \u2014 takes time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Elmolla points to payment behavior as a critical barrier. <\/strong>\u201cWhen we launched in Egypt, the reliance on [paper payments] was a challenge we hadn\u2019t seen in other markets,\u201d he says. Pargo responded by building a pay-on-collection option, allowing customers to pay with banknotes at pickup points \u2014 a move Elmolla describes as the missing link to mass-market adoption.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">What Egypt can learn from other markets<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In Europe and the GCC, lockers and pickup points expanded quickly<\/strong> thanks to clear addressing systems, automation, and cooperation between municipalities, property developers, and logistics operators. Hendawy argues similar coordination is needed locally. He says government support \u2014 particularly streamlined permits for installing lockers in public spaces \u2014 would accelerate adoption and encourage large e-commerce platforms to integrate alternative delivery models.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">The big picture<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Egypt\u2019s last-mile problem is no longer about infrastructure at ports or warehouses<\/strong>; it is about micro-infrastructure in neighborhoods \u2014 and whether consumers are willing to stop expecting parcels at their doors. \u201cWith a 100% success rate on first-time delivery, the logic is hard to ignore,\u201d Elmolla says. The question is whether lockers and pickup points remain niche solutions \u2014 or become the default way Egypt finally cracks its hardest mile.<\/p>\n\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\/ecommerce\/\">ECOMMERCE<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/hardhat\/\">Hardhat<\/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\/logistics\/\">logistics<\/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                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:19.8%\"><\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"682355\" 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\/2026\/01\/21\/682355\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-682355\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-682355 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-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 style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">2026 <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">JANUARY<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">19-23 January (Monday-Friday): World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos-Klosters, Switzerland<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>22 January (Thursday): ESBC <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/egyptian-swiss-business-circle_seeing-webinar-series-swiss-egyptian-expertise-activity-7407380702054367233-Z43h?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACeyGZ4BK15sJ_E7AkAyYjPtsSlJdB9daH8\" style=\"\">SEEING<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> webinar, From Zurich to Cairo: How Global Executive Research Shapes Tomorrow\u2019s Leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">25 January (Sunday): Revolution Day \/ Police Day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">FEBRUARY<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">3 February (Tuesday): S&P Global to release PMI figures for January. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">10 February (Tuesday): Capmas expected to release inflation data for January.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>10-12 February (Tuesday-Thursday): Gitex Global\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1QkF8DUZBj\/\" style=\"\">AI Everything Middle East & Africa<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> Summit <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">12 February (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s first meeting of 2026. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">19 February (Thursday): First day of Ramadan (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">MARCH<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">15 March (Sunday): IMF to hold its seventh review of Egypt\u2019s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">21 March: (Saturday): Eid El Fitr starts (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">30 March - 1 April (Monday-Wednesday): Egypt International Energy Conference and Exhibition 2026 (EGYPES)  <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">APRIL<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">2 April (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s second meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">12 April (Sunday): Coptic Easter. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">25 April (Saturday): Sinai Liberation Day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">MAY<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">1 May (Friday): Labor Day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">21 May (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s third meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">27-29 May (Wednesday-Friday): Eid El Adha (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">JUNE: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">30 June (Tuesday): National holiday in observance of June 30 Revolution (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">JULY<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">9 July (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s fourth meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">23 July (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Revolution Day (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">AUGUST<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">20 August (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s fifth meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">26 August (Wednesday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad\u2019s birthday (TBC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">SEPTEMBER<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">15 September (Tuesday): IMF to hold its eighth review of Egypt\u2019s USD 8 bn EFF arrangement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">24 September (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s sixth meeting of 2026. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>27-29 September (Sunday-Tuesday): Global Conference on Population, Health and Human Development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">OCTOBER<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">29 October (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s seventh meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">DECEMBER <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">17 December (Thursday): Monetary Policy Committee\u2019s eighth meeting of 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Early 2026: Passenger operations on the New Administrative Capital\u2013Nasr City monorail scheduled to begin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Early 2026: The government will launch the second package of tax breaks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">1Q 2026: Trial operations for the Ain Sokhna\u2013Sixth of October section of Egypt\u2019s first high-speed rail line scheduled to begin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>1Q 2026: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=1433492502154499&set=pb.100064812882317.-2207520000&type=3\" style=\"\">visit<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> Egypt <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">May 2026: End of extension for developers on 15% interest rates for land installment payments <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">2H 2026: Operations at Deli Glass Co\u2019s new USD 70 mn glassware factory kick off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">2027<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">20 January-7 February: Egypt to host the African Games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span>April 2027: Tenth of Ramadan <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration-skip-ink:none;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.news\/egypt\/en\/news\/story\/8320d4df-e1a7-405e-be07-08e6590aff0e\/\" style=\"\">dry port and logistics hub<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> to begin operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:700;\">EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">2027: Egypt to host EBRD\u2019s annual meetings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">2027: Egypt-EU Summit 2027 <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">End of 2027: Trial operations at the Dabaa nuclear power plant expected to take place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">September 2028: First unit of the Dabaa nuclear power plant begins operations.<\/span><\/p>\n\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":"<p>Gourmet lists on the EGX today | El Sisi in Davos | OCI-Orascom merger on 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