{"id":567808,"date":"2020-12-08T04:02:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T04:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2020\/12\/08\/what-were-tracking-on-8-december-2020\/"},"modified":"2020-12-08T04:02:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T04:02:40","slug":"what-were-tracking-on-8-december-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2020\/12\/08\/what-were-tracking-on-8-december-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"What we\u2019re tracking on 8 December 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> IT\u2019S A BIG DAY FOR- Every single one of us, really<\/strong>, as the United Kingdom is set to become the first major country to begin the public rollout of a vaccine for covid-19. A top UK health official called the start of the vaccination drive today a \u201cdecisive turning point<\/a> in the battle against coronavirus.\u201d Front-line healthcare staff and folks over the age of 80 are the first in line.<\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s supply of vaccines is limited right now <\/strong>after AstraZeneca joined Pfizer \/ BioNTech in saying it was experiencing manufacturing delays<\/a>. Vaccines won\u2019t be rolling out in Canada or Europe in significant quantities until January, the way things stand now.<\/p>\n

So, when will a vaccine be available in Egypt? <\/strong>We\u2019ll likely get our first doses some time in the first three months of 2021 and we know for certain we\u2019ll have enough on hand to cover 10% of the population in May. That\u2019s when Health Ministry officials expect to receive orders placed through the WHO\u2019s Covax program for enough to cover 10 mn people<\/a>. We\u2019ve also lined up enough Sputnik V<\/a> from Russia to inoculate a further 12.5 mn and are believed to have placed an order for jabs from Pfizer and AstraZeneca.<\/p>\n

Expect more clarity in the coming days: <\/strong>President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said in late November that talks to secure stocks of vaccines could drag on for a few months yet<\/a>. Ittihadiya spokesman Bassem Rady subseuqently told Kelma Akhira\u2019s Lamees El Hadidi on 24 November that the Health Ministry\u2019s covid-19 committee would wrap up a study of available vaccines in about 10 days\u2019 time.<\/p>\n

The big question: Can we get the rights to manufacture <\/strong>an effective vaccine at Vacsera, one of Africa\u2019s top vaccine makers.<\/p>\n

WHAT\u2019S HAPPENING TODAY-<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi wraps up a two-day visit to France <\/strong>after meeting with President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. We have the full story below.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the second and final day of runoffs <\/strong>in elections for the House in Cairo and 11 other governorates. Day one yesterday passed smoothly.<\/p>\n

The Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund is hosting a webinar on the future of Egypt\u2019s <\/strong>private sector<\/strong> at 6pm CLT (11am EST) today. Speakers include our friends Ashraf Sabry (Fawry) and Magda Habib (Dawi Clinics). You can register for the event here<\/a> and check out the flyer here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SIGN OF THE TIMES #1- For the first time in 20 years, Davos isn\u2019t happening in<\/strong> Davos next May<\/strong>, moving instead to Singapore amid continued concerns over Europe\u2019s mounting covid-19 case count, the Financial Times<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

SIGN OF THE TIMES #2- The quintessential New York firm is plotting an escape to <\/strong>Florida. <\/strong>Goldman Sachs is said to be looking at real estate in Florida with a view to moving much or all of its asset management business there in search of \u201ctax and lifestyle\u201d benefits, Bloomberg<\/a> reports. Cue a new generation of \u201cFlorida man\u201d jokes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WAIT \u2014 how can you short something that\u2019s not publicly traded? <\/strong>Meet the hedgie who isn\u2019t letting practicality be an obstacle to her plan to short venture-backed startups<\/a>. A must-read for finance nerds and all the folks on Planet Startup alike.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-<\/strong><\/p>\n

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