{"id":583436,"date":"2023-02-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/02\/28\/this-evening-healthcare-cooperation-with-qatar-expat-car-import-scheme-gets-extension\/"},"modified":"2023-02-28T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T00:00:00","slug":"this-evening-healthcare-cooperation-with-qatar-expat-car-import-scheme-gets-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/02\/28\/this-evening-healthcare-cooperation-with-qatar-expat-car-import-scheme-gets-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"THIS EVENING: Healthcare cooperation with Qatar + Expat car import scheme gets extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.<\/span> We hope you\u2019re having a lovely last day of February, as the news cycle here at home remains pleasantly brisk.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE BIG STORY TODAY<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>The Health Ministry inked three agreements with Qatari healthcare companies<\/span>, to invest in <\/span>the Egyptian healthcare sector and the development of medical establishments, according to a <\/span>cabinet statement<\/a><\/span>. MoUs were signed with Investment Holding Group, Al Qamra Holding Group, and Aamal Company to collaborate on projects to improve the level of health, medical, and pharma services available in Egypt during Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly's Doha visit. They also discussed ways to simplify and expedite the procedures required for Qatari companies to operate in Egypt, according to the statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, MPs greenlight extension of expat car import scheme + custom breaks: <\/span>The House of <\/span>Representatives gave the <\/span>proposed two-month extension<\/a><\/span> of the <\/span>expat car import scheme<\/a><\/span> its final approval, pushing the scheme\u2019s deadline to 12 May, from its initial deadline of 15 February, <\/span>Al Mal<\/a><\/span> reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

REFRESHER\u2013 <\/span>The scheme provides incentives to Egyptians living abroad to purchase cars overseas and import them into Egypt, and was designed by policymakers to bring more FX into the country. Under the rules, expats will receive full rebates on customs fees, VAT, and other taxes within five years of purchasing a vehicle, provided they pay them upfront in FX.<\/span><\/p>\n

The House also approved custom breaks aimed at tech investment projects,<\/span> as part of the state\u2019s efforts to boost foreign investments in a last-ditch effort to bring in more hard currency into the country, <\/span>Asharq Business<\/a><\/span> wrote. Under the new custom breaks, batteries, headphones, and cameras imported to be used in smartphone assembly will be subject to a 2% custom tax, from the current custom tax ranging from 5-30%, while phone screens will be exempt from their current 2% custom. <\/span><\/p>\n

THE BIG STORY ABROAD<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a mixed bag in the international business press this afternoon<\/span>. Among the stories <\/span>getting top billing: Investors are betting the European Central Bank will raise interest rates to a record high as inflation in major European economies shows no signs of slowing down. Data released earlier today showed that annual inflation made unexpected jumps in France (rising to 7.2% in February from 7.0% in January) and Spain (rising to 6.1% in February from 5.9% in January). The story is getting attention in: <\/span>Financial Times<\/a><\/span> | <\/span>Bloomberg<\/a><\/span> | <\/span>Wall Street Journal<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

HAPPENING NOW- <\/span><\/p>\n

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Hungarian PM Viktor Orb\u00e1n signed a strategic partnership<\/span>agreement to strengthen bilateral ties<\/span> (<\/span>watch, runtime: 2:44<\/a><\/span>) during a press conference at the Ittihadiya palace today. The press conference also saw Egyptian and Hungarian ministers sign a number of MoUs in areas including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, youth and sports, academic scholarships, higher education and scientific research (<\/span>watch, runtime: 8:24<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today\u2019s EnterpriseAM:<\/span><\/p>\n