{"id":586703,"date":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/05\/16\/thanks-to-all-those-who-came-to-the-enterprise-exports-and-fdi-forum\/"},"modified":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","slug":"thanks-to-all-those-who-came-to-the-enterprise-exports-and-fdi-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/05\/16\/thanks-to-all-those-who-came-to-the-enterprise-exports-and-fdi-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanks to all those who came to the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen-<\/span><\/p>\n

Before jumping in, we want to start by thanking the 500 of you who joined us<\/span> yesterday for the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum.<\/span> The day was stacked with insightful conversations with businesses and manufacturers who have successfully set themselves up as major exporters.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re exceptionally grateful to all of our friends whose generous support made<\/span> yesterday possible:<\/span><\/p>\n

Banking partners:<\/span> Banque Misr | Al Baraka Bank | Emirates NBD | HSBC<\/span><\/p>\n

Lead partners:<\/span> DB Schenker | DP World | East Port Said Development | IDG | IFC | Madinat<\/span> Masr<\/span><\/p>\n

Event partners:<\/span> Beyti | Concrete | GlobalCorp | Grant Thornton | Hassan Allam Utilities | Royal<\/span> Ceramica<\/span><\/p>\n

COVERAG<\/span>E<\/span>-<\/span>Enterprise Logistics<\/a><\/span> ha<\/span>s the rundo<\/span>wn this morning on how Egyptian companies<\/span> can crack into multinational players\u2019 supply chains, and we have a recap below on how to turn the tide on Egypt\u2019s exports. We\u2019ll have more coverage over the next several days across our publications. <\/span><\/p>\n

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WATCH THESE SPACES-<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>#1- Qatar is eyeing the BRT: <\/span>An unnamed Qatari company is interested in managing and <\/span>operating the <\/span>Cairo Ring Road bus rapid transit (BRT)<\/a><\/span> system. T<\/span>he news came <\/span>during a meeting<\/a><\/span> between Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir and his Qatari counterpart Jassim Al Sulaiti yesterday, where they also discussed other potential points of cooperation in the transport sector. The BRT system will provide an alternative means of transportation on the Ring Road and is aimed at reducing traffic on the congested freeway.<\/span><\/p>\n

#2- More Palestine-Israel negotiations in Sharm? <\/span>Egypt is reportedly planning another five-party <\/span>meeting in Sharm El Sheikh focused on resuming peace talks between Israel and Palestine, <\/span>Israeli media<\/a><\/span> reported Monday. Representatives from the Palestinian and Israeli governments will attend, alongside Egyptian, Jordanian and US officials, according to the report. <\/span><\/p>\n

The report comes on the heels of renewed violence between Islamic Jihad and Israel<\/span>which engaged in five days of fighting last week after Israel assassinated a number of its commanders. Egypt <\/span>brokered a ceasefire<\/a><\/span> on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egypt <\/span>hosted a similar meeting<\/a><\/span> in Sharm in March<\/span> only for progress to be <\/span>immediately<\/a><\/span>undermined<\/a><\/span> by inflammatory comments made by Israel\u2019s far-right finance minister and a decision by lawmakers to reinstate a number of settlements dismantled in 2005.<\/span><\/p>\n

PSA- A one-stop shop for investors in Egypt\u2019s new cities:<\/span> The New Urban Communities <\/span>Authority (NUCA) has launched an online portal to help investors find and apply for investment opportunities in new cities, Housing Minister Assem El Gazar <\/span>said<\/a><\/span> yesterday<\/span>. Investors can apply for projects during the first half of every month.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

<\/a> <\/span>It\u2019s the second session of the National Dialogue: <\/span>Four sessions are scheduled for today, two <\/span>focusing on social protection programs and two concerned with the tourism sector and efforts to boost investment, according to <\/span>Youm7<\/a><\/span>. The <\/span>opening day on Sunday<\/a><\/span> saw discussions about the electoral system and discrimination. All sessions will be shared on the dialogue\u2019s <\/span>Facebook<\/a><\/span> and <\/span>Youtube<\/a><\/span> accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/span>India\u2019s army chief is in Egypt for a two-day visit:<\/span> General Manoj Pande will hold talks with <\/span>Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki, Armed Forces chief of staff, Osama Ahmed Askar, and the ministry\u2019s <\/span>Military Operations Authority <\/span>Ahmed Fathy Khalifa<\/span>, according to <\/span>a statement<\/a><\/span>from the Indian Defence Ministry. The visit aims to enhance \u201cIndo-Egypt defense relations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/span>CDIS starts today:<\/span> The <\/span>Egypt Cybersecurity & Defense Intelligence Systems (CDIS) expo<\/a><\/span> gets <\/span>underway at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. The three-day event will bring together experts from across the world to discuss the present and future of cybersecurity in Egypt and the world. Check out the agenda <\/span>here (pdf)<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/span>It\u2019s interest rate week:<\/span> The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will hold its policy meeting on <\/span>Thursday, 18 May. Seven of nine respondents in <\/span>our regular poll<\/a><\/span> of analysts and economists expect the central bank to hold off on further rate hikes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Make that seven of 10:<\/span> In a note out yesterday, HC Securities\u2019 Heba Mounir forecast a 100-bps <\/span>rate hike due to inflationary pressures, widening net foreign liabilities in the banking system and delays to the government\u2019s privatization program.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/span>Arab League summit:<\/span> Syria will be at the table at this week\u2019s Arab League summit in Saudi <\/span>Arabia for the first time in 12 years after the group of Arab states earlier this month <\/span>voted to restore<\/a><\/span> the country\u2019s membership. Syrian government officials were in Jeddah yesterday for an economic conference ahead of the summit, which takes place Friday. It\u2019s not clear whether Syrian President Bashar Al Assad will personally attend the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Syria wants Arab investment:<\/span> During the meeting, Syria\u2019s economy and trade minister urged <\/span>Arab nations to invest in the country and called for the removal of all tariffs by members of the <\/span><\/p>\n

Greater Arab Freetrade Zone (GAFTA), according to the <\/span>Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)<\/a><\/span>. \u201cWe invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising prospects,\u201d the agency quoted him as saying.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s going to be tricky:<\/span> US sanctions currently prevent governments from doing business <\/span>with the Assad government. These <\/span>would be expanded under draft legislation<\/a><\/span> designed to deter countries from normalizing ties with Damascus, as <\/span>Saudi Arabia did<\/a><\/span> earlier this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Al Assad at COP: <\/span>UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday invited <\/span>Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to attend COP28, which takes place in Dubai in December, <\/span>SANA reported<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE BIG STORIES ABROAD-<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a mixed picture on the front pages this morning<\/span>, with no single story shaping the global news agenda:<\/span><\/p>\n