Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the medical convoys are directed to the border governorates and remote villages with a commitment to take all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Abdel Ghaffar indicated that the convoys include all medical specialities, including internal medicine, children, nose and ear, bones, surgery, ophthalmology, dental, heart, dermatology, gynaecology and childbirth, and family planning services, in addition to radiology and medical analysis services, in addition to a pharmacy, and cases that need surgical operations are transferred to hospitals affiliated with the Ministry. The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population stated that the dates and locations of the medical convoys will be published periodically on the Ministry of Health's social media.

The sources added that the government has appointed a legal advisor to the company to start the offering procedures, provided that a large share of the company, which may exceed 30%, will be offered. The source explained that the offering could be divided between public and private, according to the desire of strategic investors to acquire a share in the company, especially since it is the strongest of the government's IPO programme. The company was included in the government IPO programme announced by the Prime Minister last February, which includes 32 government companies in 18 economic sectors, including 3 banks. MTS was established as an Egyptian joint stock company, in which the state owns 80% of the company's shares, and the shareholder structure consists of the Ministry of Finance, the Egyptian Company for Financial Facilities Management e-Finance, the National Investment Bank, and the Egyptian Company for Investment Projects, and Amiral Management Corporation. The company is responsible for implementing the Advance Registration System for Cargo Information“ACI”, which was launched in 2021, and its advantages included simplifying procedures for customs release of goods, and assistance in eliminating neglected and unidentified or sourced goods in Egyptian ports, and it also helps customs and concerned authorities in starting release procedures prior to the arrival of shipments (pre-release).

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced the launch of 48 free medical convoys nationwide until 20 April, as part of the presidential initiative “Decent Life”. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the medical convoys are directed to the border governorates and remote villages with a commitment to take all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Abdel Ghaffar indicated that the convoys include all medical specialities, including internal medicine, children, nose and ear, bones, surgery, ophthalmology, dental, heart, dermatology, gynaecology and childbirth, and family planning services, in addition to radiology and medical analysis services, in addition to a pharmacy, and cases that need surgical operations are transferred to hospitals affiliated with the Ministry. The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population stated that the dates and locations of the medical convoys will be published periodically on the Ministry of Health’s social media.

He further noted that 13 golden licences have been granted to companies and that 40 applications for obtaining golden license are currently being studied. The government aims to generalise the golden license experience for all industries and different sectors to attract more investments. The golden license is a combined license for all permits necessary to establish and operate projects. Sumitomo Corporation Group is one of the largest manufacturers of electric car wiring harnesses in the world. Oka Hiroshi said that the success of Japanese companies operating in Egypt is considered an attractive factor for Japanese and international companies to direct more new investments into the Egyptian market.

The application for participatory transportation was launched during the year 2021 by the young entrepreneur, Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Fadl, with the aim of facing the challenges that the Sudanese transportation market suffers from and the lack of an organized or regular transportation network in about 18 Sudanese states. The car is subject to the conditions of different taxi applications, which makes the application create a new concept for the interstate transportation and travel market, whether in Sudan or in the countries of the Middle East. The application also provides another service, which is the independent trip or the smart taxi. In the framework of supporting and empowering women, the application provides a“Princess” service that allows women to use their cars to work in the application to increase income, and provides them with the service of accompanying women only to provide more safety. He added that the application is available in Sudan, targeting expansion in the Egyptian, Saudi and Ethiopian markets during the next two years, according to their strategic plan to expand and spread.

This marks the fourth issuance for HSB and the first in a newly approved two-year program worth EGP 2bn. The Middle East Ratings and Investor Services (MERIS) affirmed the national scale long-term senior unsecured entity rating at “BBB+” with a Stable Outlook and the short-term senior unsecured issuer rating of “P2” to HSB. The investment banking division recently concluded advisory on valU’s fourth securitization issuance worth EGP 856.5m, Premium International for Credit Services’ eighth, EGP 193.65m securitized bond issuance, and Bedaya Mortgage Finance’s second, EGP 958m securitization issuance. The division also advised on the EGP 638m securitization issuance for Palm Hills Development (PHD), the second, EGP 805.5m issuance for Madinet Nasr for Housing and Development (MNHD), and Al Taamir Mortgage Finance – Al Oula’s first securitization issuance worth EGP 998.5m. EFG Hermes acted as the sole financial advisor, sole transaction manager and book-runner, underwriter, and arranger on the issuance.

The official gazette published on Tuesday a decision issued by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli last week to amend some provisions of a decree on minimum wages of civil servants. The amended decree stipulates that as of April 1 the minimum wages be set at a monthly 10,500 pounds for employees at state institutions and economic entities as a highest estimate. The lowest estimate of minimum wages will be set at a monthly 3,500 pounds. PhD holders should receive a minimum of 7,000 pounds per month, while employees with a master’s degree should get 6,000 pounds every month.

Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has said that Egypt has become more attractive to foreign investments with its promising and attractive opportunities, advanced infrastructure capable of meeting all the needs of investment and production activities, a legislative environment, tax and customs incentives, and the incentive efforts taken by the government to empower the private sector, including the state ownership policy document and the golden licence. He added that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Egyptian and South Korean customs authorities at the end of this month to enhance customs cooperation and facilitate trade movement. Maait affirmed, during his meeting with the South Korean ambassador in Cairo today, Egypt’s aspiration to increase the investments of Korean companies, in a way that contributes to maximizing Egyptian production and export capabilities, and strengthening the partnership between the two countries, as the investments of Korean companies are a leading model in the electronics industry in the Egyptian market, and play a pivotal role in deepening the national industry, increasing the proportions of the technological component in the industry, and providing new job opportunities. He pointed out that the new programme to support exports is more stimulating for the production and export sectors, and EGP 28.1bn have been allocated in the new budget to support exporting companies, with the government’s intention, starting from the next fiscal year, to disburse export support in the same year of export, in a way that helps provide the necessary cash liquidity to encourage production. Hong Jin-wook, South Korean Ambassador to Cairo, said that Korean companies are interested in investing in Egypt, pointing out that the investments of existing companies in Egypt are a successful model for attracting more investors and Korean companies to the Egyptian market, expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Finance in encouraging investment and enhancing trade.

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation ElSayed Elkosayer has affirmed that there is continuous follow-up and full coordination with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and with the support of the Prime Minister personally to release suitable quantities of corn, soybeans, and feed additives from Egyptian ports to support this industry. He explained that during the period from 31 March to 6 April, 210,000 tonnes of corn and soybeans were released, at a value of $97m, an increase of 50,000 tonnes over last week. He added that the release included 162,000 tonnes of corn, at a value of $59m, and 47,000 tonnes of soybeans, at a value of $35m, in addition to feed additives worth $3m, bringing the total of what was released during the period from 16 October 2022 to 6 April 2023, to about 3.756 million tonnes, including 2.702 million tonnes of corn, 1.054 million tonnes of soybeans and feed additives, with a total value of $1.85bn. He confirmed that the release aims to provide quantities of corn and soy in the markets, which are the basic ingredients for poultry feed, as well as farm animals.

CAIRO - 11 April 2023: Manpower Minister Hassan Shehata announced Tuesday that next Monday will be considered a paid day off for private sector employees and civil servants, alike, on the occasion of Sham El-Nessim. Early in April, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli issued a decision declaring Monday 17 April an official paid holiday for public sector workers on the occasion of Sham El-Nessim. Madbouli's decisin applies to workers in ministries, government institutions, public agencies, local administration units, and public sector companies. Thousands of Egyptians annualy celebrate the Pharaonic festival of Sham El-Nessim that marks the beginning of spring in national parks and gardens. The name Sham El-Nessim or (inhaling the breeze) is derived from the Coptic language, which was derived from the ancient Egyptian language.

On Monday the price of the US dollar continued to stabilize across Egyptian banks for the fourth consecutive week. Globally, the dollar index recorded a new rise in the stock exchange by 0.11 percent. “If the US Federal Reserve does not fix the interest rate, it will raise by a maximum of 25 basis points, which will attract more investments to the dollar,” he added. In televised statements, Shawky explained that this step would negatively affect the performance of other currencies worldwide, especially emerging markets. He anticipated a rise in the price of the dollar in Egypt in the coming period by no less than ten percent.

FILE- FM Sameh Shoukry receives Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry premise at Tahrir Palace in Cairo on March 18, 2023- press photoCAIRO – 10 April 2023: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced today, Monday, that it is likely that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will go to Turkey this week. In an interview with A Haber T.V., Çavuşoğlu said that Shoukry will visit Turkey soon, perhaps this week, adding that the details of the visit will be announced next Wednesday, adding that there are developments regarding the return of the ambassadors of the two countries to their work. During Shoukry's visit, we can take steps to appoint ambassadors,” he was quoted as saying. Both countries downgraded their diplomatic ties and expelled the ambassadors in 2013 after Turkey slammed Egypt for ousting the pro-Muslim Brotherhood late President Mohamed Morsi. Shoukry visited Turkey on February 27 to show solidarity with Ankara against the earthquake disaster that hit southern Turkey and northwest Syria and claimed the lives of more than 46,000 people.

At least one person was killed and 30 injured, many seriously, when a passenger train carrying about 50 people derailed in the Netherlands early Tuesday after hitting construction equipment on the track, Dutch emergency services said. Rescue teams were seen ferrying away the injured in pre-dawn darkness at the scene of the accident at Voorschoten, a village near The Hague. The front carriage of the night train from Leiden city to The Hague derailed and plowed into a field after the accident, ANP news agency said. Earlier reports said the passenger train had collided with a freight train. “This is an incredibly tragic accident,” Voorschoten Mayor Nadine Stemerdink said.

Egypt has announced that it will host the 12th World Urban Forum in 2024, during the first session of this year of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, Kenya. He said estimates of urban developments in Egypt indicate that 69% of its people will live in cities by 2041. This requires Egypt to adhere to the program’s urban development agenda and work to develop smart solutions to urban challenges in order to achieve a better urban future. On the other hand, the Permanent Representative of Egypt welcomed the delegations of States to participate in the 12th World Urban Forum, hosted by Cairo in November 2024. The World Urban Forum is the world’s largest urban development event, the first of which was launched under the UN Human Settlements Program in 2001 to discuss ways to address the challenges of accelerated urbanization.

The first day of the “Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs” exhibition at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, on Friday, brought in visitors who flocked from all over France to visit. It is the first time that the sarcophagus of King Ramses II is displayed outside Egypt in this exhibit, which comes in appreciation of the French scientists who providing assistance in the restoring the mummy of King Ramses II in 1976. It features a set of videos that tell the history of King Ramses II and the battles he led, as well as virtual visits that take the visitor on a journey through history with King Ramses II. The exhibition also allows the chance for its visitors to tour the Abu Simbel Temple and Nefertari’s tomb through virtual reality technology. The exhibition will continue in Paris until September 17.