Egypt: Oriental Weavers opens OW Haptech store in New Cairo
Spanning 250 square meters, the store features real-time visualization technology, interactive displays, and AI-powered customization options.
The new format allows customers to preview carpet designs in actual dimensions through the store's 'Virtual Preview' system, view and feel material samples on display walls, and design personalized rugs in the 'OW Studio' alongside Oriental Weavers experts.
The store also includes a selection of exclusive and limited-edition pieces from the company's global collections.
The store is part of Oriental Weavers' ongoing plans to invest in smart manufacturing, digital retail solutions, and sustainable materials, in line with its strategy to modernize operations while maintaining quality and supporting local industry.
© 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Aayan Developments officially launches Operations in Egypt and unveils its first project 'dǎoda Towers' in the New Administrative Capital
Aayan Developments has officially announced the launch of its operations in the Egyptian market and unveiled its first real estate project under the name 'dǎo Towers', a multi-use high-rise tower located in the heart of the New Administrative Capital. The project represents the first step in a carefully planned expansion strategy aimed at transferring the company's rich development experience from Gulf markets to Egypt, driven by an integrated vision that combines institutional thinking with smart development. During the press conference, Eng. Mohamed Hegazi, Chairman of Aayan Developments, stated: 'Entering the Egyptian market was not just an expansion decision — it is part of a long-term strategic commitment to a market we truly believe in. We bring decades of executional expertise from Kuwait and the Gulf, and with dǎo Towers, we aim to deliver a distinct model based on innovation, quality, and structured governance.' He emphasized that the project is a direct reflection of Aayan's philosophy, which views real estate development as more than construction — encompassing planning, operations, value creation, and a holistic user experience. He further noted that the company is preparing to launch a series of upcoming projects across various regions of Egypt as part of its national expansion roadmap. Eng. Rami Hegazi, CEO of Aayan Developments, highlighted that choosing MU-12 on the Bin Zayed Axis as the location for the company's first project in Egypt was no coincidence, but the result of an in-depth analysis of prime real estate positioning within the New Administrative Capital. 'dǎo Towers is not just strategically located with panoramic views of the Green River and the Iconic Tower — it's a fully integrated project in every detail, from the variety of unit types including offices, retail spaces, clinics, and a luxury hotel, to an operational experience enhanced by artificial intelligence.' He noted that the project will include several firsts in the capital, including the largest digital advertising screen on Bin Zayed Axis, the largest rooftop infinity pool overlooking the city's landmarks, and the largest open festival and event plaza within an integrated development — all of which enhance the project's investment, commercial, and lifestyle value. Eng. Ahmed Hegazi, Executive Director of Aayan, affirmed that the company entered the Egyptian market fully aware of the scale of the challenges, and accordingly built its internal structure on robust administrative and organizational foundations that align with its ambitious expansion plans. 'From the beginning, we adopted a flexible and scalable institutional structure. We developed an operational system that merges human expertise with advanced technologies. Artificial intelligence is not just a technical feature for us — it's a core part of our operational DNA, whether in energy and facilities management, smart customer services, or real-time performance analysis.' To realize this vision, Aayan collaborated with a select group of leading advisory and planning entities, including MTA (led by Eng. Mohamed Talaat) for architectural design, ACE (Moharram - Bakhoum) for engineering consultancy, Al Hosny Consulting (Eng. Osman Ramadan) for structural detailing, as well as partnerships with AWI for strategic business planning and institutional structuring, ETQAN for market research and financial feasibility, AK Consulting for organizational development, and Pragma Innovations for creative design. The company's board members emphasized that dǎo Towers is not just a strong market entry, but a bold statement of a new type of developer — one that places methodology, governance, and smart systems at the heart of its developments. They concluded the conference by reaffirming that this project is just the beginning of a series of future developments that will introduce a new model of real estate development in Egypt, grounded in quality, smart transformation, and structured growth built on strong partnerships and deep expertise.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Egypt: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Meets Executive Secretaries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Al-Mashat discusses outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and ways to enhance joint cooperation with UN officials. Al-Mashat emphasizes the need for intensified UN efforts to promote debt sustainability and overcome economic challenges in developing and emerging countries. H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held intensive bilateral meetings with development partners and government officials during the United Nations Financing for Development conference in Spain. The meetings focused on discussing ways to strengthen joint economic relations and reviewing the outputs and outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation met with Ambassador Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the significance of maintaining an open and cooperative dialogue on Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), particularly as developing countries strive to achieve the dual goals of financing development and maintaining financial sustainability. She highlighted Egypt's commitment to evidence-based policymaking and expressed appreciation for UNECA's role in promoting regional approaches to debt dialogue and capacity building. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that UNECA plays a pivotal role in fostering regional debt dialogue and providing technical support to member states. By providing knowledge and resources, the commission helps countries improve their financial strategies and develop debt management systems, thereby enhancing their ability to address economic challenges. The two sides discussed ways to develop joint relations. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated Egypt's keenness to benefit from the technical expertise and knowledge resources provided by UNECA to refine policies and support inclusive growth. She also highlighted Egypt's commitment to leverage UNECA's support in the field of macro-planning to achieve sustainable development and promote inclusive growth. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) In another context, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Ms. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), to discuss a number of cooperation files. During the meeting, the two parties reviewed potential areas of cooperation and support between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat confirmed the depth of relations between the two sides and the diversity of cooperation files to include a number of vital issues. H.E. Minister Rania Al-Mashat pointed to the tools developed by ESCWA in the areas of financing, costing, budgeting, and improving debt management. She stressed Egypt's interest in and the importance of these tools, especially in light of the recent launch of Egypt's Integrated National Financing Framework (E-INFF). H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out the role of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and its responsibility for managing public investments. She outlined that the AI-powered budgeting tool developed by ESCWA could contribute to guiding optimal public spending decisions to achieve sustainable development goals and accelerate their implementation, in line with Egypt's commitments, national priorities, and Egypt Vision 2030. H.E. Minister Al-Mashat underscored the importance of cooperation with ESCWA to bridge data gaps, as development gaps are linked to financing gaps, making it essential to monitor these gaps accurately. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also noted the Ministry's role in chairing the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship, which includes various relevant entities. She indicated potential avenues for cooperation in this area, especially given ESCWA's endeavors to support small and medium-sized enterprises and boost their capabilities in e-commerce. The two sides also discussed the possibility of ESCWA supporting the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) by providing innovative ideas and mechanisms to enhance preparations for the upcoming population census. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation - Egypt.
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa's legislative compliance: How retailers can reach net zero?
The growing environmental impact of the retail industry has again made headlines in recent weeks, with France's senate approving a bill that directly addresses the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry. The bill proposes to regulate overproduction and overconsumption and is now under consideration by a joint committee of deputies and senators. This latest legislative development builds on the 2024 adoption of proposals by the European Parliament to broaden the scope of recycling obligations for fashion brands and to introduce new food waste reduction targets for EU member states. While the EU has applied direct pressure to retailers through targeted legislation, a broader set of regulatory and reputational considerations applies in South Africa, spurring a trend among South African retailers towards alignment with global sustainability standards. In this article, we unpack key legal and reputational considerations for the South African retail industry as businesses progress on their net zero journey. Decarbonisation and supply chains Prioritising a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across operations and supply chains is foundational to the sustainability strategy of any business and requires net reductions across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. This is a particular challenge for retailers, whose scope 3 emissions, derived from indirect emissions in the value chain, often constitute the majority of the retailer's carbon footprint. Given the high impact of scope 3 emissions, retailers will struggle to set and achieve meaningful net zero targets without understanding and prioritising their supply chains. Mapping supply chains, assessing environmental and social impacts throughout, and promoting sustainable practices among suppliers are therefore crucial steps. While supply chain due diligence is not yet a legislative requirement across most jurisdictions, retailers who engage thoroughly with their supply chains will be better positioned to build meaningful net zero targets, report on those targets, and ultimately meet legislative obligations, which are anticipated to come into force in the coming years. Reporting and disclosures The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is an EU initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and standardising sustainability reporting across companies. As of June 2025, the CSRD is undergoing revisions to simplify reporting requirements, with implementation delays and scope adjustments proposed to reduce burdens on businesses while maintaining core sustainability objectives. Implementation of CSRD has, however, commenced. As more businesses are brought within its scope, sustainability reporting requirements will intensify for EU companies and their supply chains. Retailers in South Africa may take the view that the incentive for ESG reporting is currently low, given the slow implementation of the CSRD in the EU and the absence of mandatory reporting requirements locally. However, demonstrating progress towards net zero is underpinned by accurate reporting. With consumers increasingly seeking more sustainable retail options, retailers must ensure that their sustainability claims are credible and backed by data, or risk facing greenwashing claims. South Africa's Advertising Regulatory Board recently published a draft Sustainability Code to address greenwashing. The draft code establishes definitions and guidelines for various environmental claims, including composability, recyclability, and carbon neutrality of products. Given the legal and reputational risks associated with unsubstantiated sustainability statements, thorough and transparent reporting is the only viable solution. A proactive and data-based approach to sustainability reporting will enable retailers to prepare for mandatory reporting obligations, while maintaining credibility with consumers and stakeholders. South African legislation South Africa has a robust environmental regulatory framework, and any company's net zero journey should begin with legislative compliance. From an operational perspective, certain provisions of the Climate Change Act, 2024 recently came into force in South Africa. These provisions pave the way for the government to determine sectoral emission targets (SETs) for GHG-emitting sectors and sub-sectors, as well as to establish a GHG emission threshold to decide which entities will be allocated a carbon budget once the remaining provisions of the Act come into force. Draft SETs were published in April 2024, including those for the trade and industry sector, which covers all manufacturing and production in the country. An important regulatory intervention which retailers should be considering is the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which seeks to extend a defined producer's financial or physical responsibility for its products across the products' life cycle, to the post-consumer stage (ie. post-consumption waste recovery, recycling and disposal, and the end-of-life management of the products and their resultant wastes). EPR Regulations, published under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008, regulate problematic waste streams resulting from public consumption of certain products, as set out in various sector notices. EPR sector notices have been published for the electrical and electronic equipment; lighting; paper, packaging and some single use products; portable batteries; pesticides and lubricant oil sectors. Regulators are increasingly doubling down on EPR 'free riders'. Businesses that manufacture, convert, import, refurbish or distribute any regulated identified products, or make or sell them under a brand label, are reminded to ensure compliance with these laws, as well as ensuring that their efforts towards net zero or circular economy initiatives are aligned with the regulations and related policy guidelines. Reputation management Although South African companies are not yet compelled by legislation to report on sustainability, many choose to make public statements and disclosures about their targets and performance. These public statements must, however, be carefully considered and substantiated. In August 2024, South Africa saw its first successful greenwashing case, in which TotalEnergies was found guilty of greenwashing by the Advertising Regulatory Board. While public scrutiny of the environmental and social impact of large companies is increasing, cases like this serve as a warning to businesses against making overly broad or misleading sustainability-related claims, which may result in reputational harm, litigation or other consequences. Setting net zero targets is a priority for many retailers in South Africa, even though the targeted legislative interventions on sustainability reporting and due diligence seen in the EU are not yet directly impacting South African businesses. Aligning these targets with global reporting standards, conducting comprehensive supply chain due diligence, ensuring compliance with local environmental regulations and managing reputational risk will support businesses on their net zero journey, and ultimately pay off as more companies fall within the scope of ESG legislation.
