Latest news with #AbdelFattahAlSisi
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's Al-Sisi reviews plan to engage private sector in airport development
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Saturday reviewed a comprehensive strategy to develop the country's civil aviation sector, including plans to involve the private sector in operating airports to help achieve a national target of 30 million tourists annually, the presidency said. The president met in New Alamein with Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny and the chairperson of EgyptAir Air Services, Soheir Abdallah, to discuss the plan, which covers air navigation, the aircraft fleet, and airport development. Al-Sisi directed officials to proceed with offering Hurghada airport for partnership with the private sector by the end of 2025, according to a presidential statement. This move is part of a national strategy, prepared in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as a strategic advisor, to engage private companies in the operation and development of 11 key airports. The strategy, which aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve services, is expected to be finalised before the end of summer 2025. The state will retain ownership of these assets. The statement quoted Al-Sisi as emphasising the need for international partnerships based on efficiency and sustainability, alongside incentives for the private sector, to transform Egypt's airports into advanced regional hubs. During the meeting, Al-Sisi was updated on the 'New Republic's Air Gateway' project at Terminal 4 of Cairo International Airport. The project aims to build a new passenger terminal with a capacity of at least 30 million passengers, which would raise the airport's total capacity to over 60 million passengers per year. The discussion also covered Egypt's air navigation system, which has received international praise for its performance, particularly amid recent regional crises that led to the closure of airspace in neighbouring countries. The increased traffic, reaching over 1,600 flights per day, was managed efficiently by Egyptian air traffic controllers, earning commendations from organisations such as Eurocontrol, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). A plan to restructure and modernise Egypt's airspace and its radar and communication systems was also reviewed. The meeting also addressed the progress made by the national carrier, EgyptAir. The airline was recently named 'Best Airline Staff in Africa' for 2025 by the global rating organisation Skytrax. It also won awards for the best economy class meals, the most improved airline in Africa for the second consecutive year, and the best cabin crew on the continent. EgyptAir has climbed 20 places to rank 68th among the world's top 100 airlines. The statement also referenced the company's plan to modernise its fleet to 97 aircraft by the 2028/2029 fiscal year to enhance its competitiveness. Efforts to develop EgyptAir Air Services were also discussed, focusing on improving infrastructure, equipment, and staff training, as well as upgrading business lounges and improving the company's flight regularity rates.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's President reviews energy plan, stresses renewables and localisation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investment in the renewable energy sector and pursue the local manufacturing of its components, the presidency said in a statement. The president met in Alamein City on Tuesday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Essmat to review the electricity ministry's action plan. According to presidential spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, the discussion covered the development of Egypt's energy mix, the use of renewable energy and storage batteries, and efforts to improve the national grid through electrical interconnection projects. The electricity minister outlined measures taken by the ministry to improve services, including coordinating with the petroleum ministry to secure gas and fuel for power stations. He also detailed the regular monitoring of maintenance programmes, efforts to combat electricity theft and reduce losses in the network. Essmat stated that plans were underway to add approximately 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new capacity from renewable sources, representing investments of around $2.3bn. The spokesperson added that the meeting also addressed efforts to localise the manufacturing of equipment for the electricity and renewable energy sectors. This includes coordination with major foreign companies that manufacture storage batteries and wind turbines to establish those industries in Egypt. The minister provided an update on the national grid's capacity to absorb renewable energy. He noted that current installed renewable capacity totals 8,031 MW, sourced from wind, solar, and hydropower. The meeting also reviewed projections for renewable capacity in 2030 under the country's Integrated and Sustainable Energy Strategy, as well as the expected solar and wind capacity to be added to the grid by June 2028. The spokesperson said the meeting also covered developments on major energy projects. These include the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, the 3,000 MW Egypt-Saudi Arabia electrical interconnection project with investments of about $1.8bn, and the ongoing efforts to implement the Egypt-Greece electrical interconnection. President Al-Sisi stressed the need for the government to ensure a sustainable supply of electricity for the national grid, industrial sectors, and services, and to intensify work on projects aimed at raising the efficiency of the energy system. He directed the government to continue improving electricity services in all governorates and to enhance the national grid's ability to handle expected increases in consumption. This would be achieved through the continuous modernisation of generation plants, transmission and distribution networks, and control centres, the statement said. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Al Arabiya
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Egypt's al-Sisi orders government to ensure commodity reserves amid regional crisis
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered the government to ensure commodity reserves amid the escalation of the Iranian-Israeli crisis, the president's office said in a statement on Sunday.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Serbian PM calls trade deal a ‘new page' in Egypt ties
Egypt - Serbian Prime Minister Guro Macut has described a new free trade agreement with Egypt as a 'new page' in bilateral relations, stating that both countries are working to implement its terms to boost trade and investment. Speaking at the Egyptian-Serbian Business Forum in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, Macut said the agreement aims to 'achieve the optimal exploitation of possible opportunities to increase trade exchange and push investments' for the economic growth of both nations. He said the efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation have become tangible thanks to the support of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, which paves the way for stronger ties. Macut highlighted the long-standing ties between the two nations, which he noted were founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement and are celebrating 117 years of diplomatic relations. He said the strategic partnership was established during Sisi's 2022 visit to Belgrade and reaffirmed when the draft free trade deal was signed during Vučić's visit to Cairo in July 2024. While noting that economic exchange currently stands at approximately $122m, the prime minister asserted that there is potential to increase it significantly. He added that around 40 Egyptian-owned companies operate in Serbia and that joint manufacturing projects have already begun in the Egyptian market. He presented Serbia as an economically stable and safe investment destination, citing its strategic geographical location, government support, skilled workforce, and attractiveness for the software industry. Macut also mentioned Serbia's efforts to advance the 'Open Balkan' initiative to create a common market for the free movement of goods in the Western Balkans. Macut extended a specific invitation for Egyptian participation in the Belgrade Expo 2027, encouraging a large number of investors to attend to explore cooperation opportunities and create a platform to enhance trade. He also expressed hope that Serbian companies and products would find their place in the Egyptian market. 'We look forward to a new partnership and more cooperation,' he concluded.
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt pursues stronger agricultural investment across Africa
Egypt - Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, held a strategic meeting with a ministerial committee to explore ways of enhancing cooperation with African countries in the agricultural sector. The session included Sherif El-Gabaly, Chair of the African affairs committee in the House of Representatives; Hesham El-Hosary, Chair of the House agriculture and irrigation committee; Abdelsalam El-Gabaly, Chair of the Senate agriculture and irrigation committee; Abdelhamid Demerdash, Chairperson of the Agricultural Crops Export Council; as well as ministry leaders, experts, and investor representative Ahmed El-Sewedy. The discussions focused on mechanisms to boost Egyptian agricultural investments across African countries and strengthen bilateral cooperation in food production and agribusiness. Minister Farouk reaffirmed President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directives to deepen Egypt's partnerships across the continent—particularly in agriculture—as a cornerstone of regional food security and economic integration. He stressed that these partnerships would be underpinned by joint ventures, integrated agro-industrial projects, and existing trade agreements. Farouk emphasised the importance of identifying practical methods and frameworks for collaboration, calling for greater engagement from the private sector, scientific institutions, and research bodies. He requested the committee to present alternative proposals and an implementation roadmap within two weeks, to be reviewed in coordination with scientific and international partners for subsequent feasibility and technical assessments. Highlighting Africa's potential, Farouk noted that many countries on the continent offer compelling opportunities for investment due to abundant land, water resources, and the capacity to cultivate a wide range of strategic and high-value crops. These comparative advantages, he said, make agricultural cooperation mutually beneficial. The meeting also explored the development of a replicable investment model for projects in selected African countries. Key criteria include political stability, transport infrastructure, land quality, water availability, and other agricultural enablers. An agreement was reached to prepare a clear and detailed study outlining a viable investment model, to be implemented through partnerships between government agencies, the private sector, and national banks. The model will target countries offering promising opportunities and investor-friendly environments. Farouk further noted that efforts are underway to ensure data accuracy and risk mitigation, using standardised criteria to guide decision-making. It was also agreed that business leaders and investors would be invited to take part in the model, with an open call for participation from all interested stakeholders. The minister concluded by stating that this meeting builds on ongoing coordination between the Ministry and Parliament's African Affairs Committee, aiming to scale up Egyptian investments and agricultural collaboration across the continent. Participants recommended forming a permanent committee to assess investment opportunities, composed of representatives from the African Affairs Committee, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the private sector.
