Latest news with #AhmedKhaled
CairoScene
20-07-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
MSMEDA Injects LE 2.2 Billion Into Alexandria Projects Since 2014
Egypt's enterprise agency has channelled LE 2.2 billion into Alexandria since 2014, backing micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, training programmes, and infrastructure upgrades. Jul 20, 2025 Egypt's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) has invested LE 2.2 billion in Alexandria since July 2014, supporting more than 51,000 projects and generating over 110,000 job opportunities. According to MSMEDA CEO Basel Rahmy, the funding included LE 102 million allocated to infrastructure, training programmes, and community development, resulting in 718,000 workdays across the governorate. The announcement came during a meeting with Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled to discuss strengthening industrial projects in areas such as Borg El Arab and Merghem. The agency also reviewed efforts to formalise unregistered businesses so they can benefit from new tax and regulatory incentives. These reforms include Law 6 of 2025, which introduced simplified tax rates starting at 0.4% of annual turnover, alongside exemptions from various duties to support MSME growth.
Zawya
18-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt: MSMEDA supports 51,000 youth projects in Alexandria with EGP $44.5mln
Arab Finance: The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) has financed 51,000 youth-led micro- and small-sized projects with EGP 2.2 billion in investments across Alexandria between July 2014 and May 2025, CEO Basil Rahmy said. These projects created more than 110,000 diverse job opportunities. Rahmy's remarks came during a meeting with Alexandria's governor Ahmed Khaled to discuss enhancing cooperation in supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). They also explored ways to facilitate services for business owners, focusing on industrial projects, particularly in Borg El Arab. Rahmy highlighted that a sum of EGP 102 million of the total financing was allocated to infrastructure, community development, and training projects. He affirmed the agency's interest in raising awareness among business owners of Law No. 6 of 2025, currently being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA). The law offers several tax incentives to business owners, starting from 0.4% of the project's annual turnover if it reaches EGP 500,000. It reaches 1.5% if the turnover ranges between EGP 10 and 20 million. This is in addition to exemptions from many types of taxes and stamps previously imposed on small businesses.
Zawya
17-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's enterprise agency injects $44mln into Alexandria projects
Egypt's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) has injected EGP 2.2bn into 51,000 projects in the governorate of Alexandria since July 2014, its chief executive said. Basel Rahmy stated that the financing, provided between July 2014 and May 2025, has created more than 110,000 jobs. Of the total funding, 102 million pounds were allocated to infrastructure, community development, and training projects, providing 718,000 workdays, he added. Rahmy's comments came during a meeting with Alexandria's Governor, Ahmed Khaled, to discuss enhancing cooperation and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on industrial projects in areas like Borg El Arab and Merghem. The meeting aligns with directives from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to increase financial, technical, and non-financial services for citizens, particularly youth, women, and recent graduates, and to support productive clusters, Rahmy said. He emphasized the agency's commitment to expanding access to financing for both existing and new projects, especiallyin the productive and industrial sectors, due to their importance to the national economy. Rahmy also noted the agency's efforts to educate project owners about supportive laws, including Law 6 of 2025, which offers significant tax benefits. These include a simplified tax rate starting at 0.4% of annual turnover for projects up to half a million pounds, rising to 1.5% for turnover between 10 million and 20 million pounds, along with exemptions from various other taxes and duties. For his part, Governor Khaled said that Alexandria possesses promising investment opportunities and is one of Egypt's most important industrial governorates. He added that the governorate is working to expand existing industrial activities and is cooperating effectively with MSMEDA to provide necessary financing and services to project owners. Khaled affirmed the continued cooperation with the agency, particularly in formalising informal projects to enable them to benefit from the advantages offered by Law 152 of 2020 on SME development. During the meeting, the governor and MSMEDA's chief executive presented direct lending cheques to five project owners and issued formalisation licenses and classification certificates to five others. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Shafaq News
11-06-2025
- Science
- Shafaq News
Rare Arabian Hyena spotted in Northern Iraq, raising conservation concerns
Shafaq News/ A rare Arabian hyena, known for its distinctive stripes and smaller size compared to its spotted relatives, has been sighted in the Hamrin mountain range in northern Saladin province, in what experts consider a significant and rare appearance of the endangered species. The striped hyena was captured in a photograph by a resident at night, illuminated by a vehicle's headlights on a mountain road. The image, despite being taken with basic equipment, clearly shows the animal's medium build, elongated head, erect ears, and characteristic striped fur, confirming its identification as the elusive Arabian subspecies, rarely seen outside the Arabian Peninsula. Local hunter Mahmoud al-Bayati from the Amerli district told Shafaq News Agency that the Arabian hyena still roams the Hamrin Mountains. 'We occasionally spot it, especially in spring. It lives among the rocks and comes out at night in search of food. It's a rare creature and poses no threat to people, but fear of it is tied to superstitions,' he noted. Environmental activist Ahmed Khaled warned against continued poaching of the species. 'Hunting this hyena is completely unjustified due to its vital ecological role in cleaning up carrion and preventing disease. Eating its meat is an even more dangerous and irrational practice, both environmentally and health-wise,' he stated. Khaled pointed to a lack of environmental awareness in rural areas, where the animal is often misunderstood or feared, rather than recognized for its ecological value. The Arabian hyena, a subspecies of the striped hyena, inhabits mountainous and desert areas across Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. Despite its negative image in folklore, it serves a critical role in maintaining ecological balance as a natural scavenger. Although sightings continue in remote mountainous regions of Iraq, the species is not officially recognized or protected by any government agency. Experts warn that repeated hunting — whether for commercial reasons or due to its association with superstition — poses a growing threat to its survival in Iraq. Environmental specialist Mazen Abdul-Haq told Shafaq News that comprehensive surveys are needed in the Hamrin range, along with public awareness campaigns to shift perceptions and promote conservation. He also called for a strict ban on hunting and support for alternative livelihoods in rural communities. 'The reappearance of the Arabian hyena in Hamrin is not just a passing event,' Abdul-Haq said. 'It's an environmental signal that demands urgent attention from authorities, researchers, and activists. Continued poaching and consumption could lead to the extinction of this rare species from Iraq's ecosystem, without documentation or protection.' Hunter Ahmed al-Jubouri, from the mountainous areas east of Salahuddin, told Shafaq News that sightings of the hyena are not as rare as believed, particularly during drought or food shortages. 'We know this species and see it at night and in caves. Some hunters catch it without specific purpose, and some roast and eat it, believing its meat is beneficial,' he said. While no official estimates exist for the Arabian hyena population in Iraq, experts and activists agree the species is becoming increasingly scarce due to habitat loss and hunting — making each sighting a troubling indicator of its fragile status.
Al-Ahram Weekly
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Severe weather batters Alexandria with heavy rain, strong winds - Society
Alexandria was hit by an intense storm early Saturday, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and thunderstorms that caused widespread disruption across the northern governorate. Wind speeds reached up to 50 kilometres per hour, compounding chilly conditions and triggering dust storms in parts of the city. Several districts experienced flooding and traffic paralysis as snow and heavy downpours swept through the area. Authorities launched an emergency response, with Governor Ahmed Khaled placing all municipal bodies on high alert. Field teams worked around the clock to manage drainage, clear fallen trees and debris, and maintain traffic flow. Water pressure was temporarily reduced in some neighbourhoods to ease the strain on drainage systems. Heavy-duty sanitation vehicles were deployed in known flood-prone areas, while the Egyptian Red Crescent dispatched crews to rescue stranded vehicles and residents. The weather also disrupted education. Alexandria University postponed Saturday's exams until after the Eid Al-Adha holiday, while school exams were delayed by an hour to ensure student safety. The city's public transport authority increased bus services to assist with student travel. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of continued instability, forecasting intermittent thunderstorms and rain over the northwest coast, Lower Egypt and parts of Greater Cairo. Strong winds could stir sand and dust across several regions, including Sinai and the western desert. Emergency hotlines remain active, with crisis response centres operating around the clock. Officials said all available resources have been mobilized to protect public safety and minimize disruption. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
