Data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) revealed on Sunday that the value of trade exchange between Egypt and Germany increased to $4.8bn in 2021, compared to $4.6bn in 2020 — an increase of 5.2%. The agency indicated that the volume of Egyptian exports to Germany increased to $848.2m in 2021, compared to $646.1m in 2020 — an increase of 31.3% — while the value of Egyptian imports from Germany amounted to $4bn, compared to $3.9bn — an increase of 1 %. According to the agency, the top commodity groups exported by Egypt to Germany in 2021 included air and spacecrafts worth $95.7m, clothes worth $87.4m, fruits worth $67.1m, machinery and electrical equipment worth $58.7m, and seeds and oil fruits worth $58.2m. The agency added that the value of German investments in Egypt amounted to $300.2m during FY2020/21, compared to the previous FY’s $267.9m — an increase of 12.1%. Furthermore, the value of remittances from Egyptians working in Germany recorded $130.7m, compared to $117.6m — an increase of 11.1% — while the value of remittances from Germans working in Egypt amounted to $9.9m, compared to $12.4m — a decrease of 20.3%.

In preparation for the launch of the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the coming days, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled al-Anany, held an extensive meeting to review the final version of the website. The website will be the first for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities after merging the two portfolios of tourism and antiquities into one ministry. It is also the first official service website for the Ministry of Tourism to be launched in several years. The website will provide introductory and informational services that include all details related to the scope of work, tasks and competencies of the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry and its affiliated bodies, and the components of tourism infrastructure in Egypt. The ministry is also scheduled to launch, during the next few weeks, another website for the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Activation, to promote tourism to Egypt in foreign languages, which will contain information about Egypt and travel to the various Egyptian tourist destinations.

Shedeed added that Datwyler will continue to act as a consultant to many organisations in Egypt from both the public and private sectors and support their digital transformation. Through the company’s solutions and value-added services, Datwyler will support the country’s various initiatives and key projects, ensuring the success of Egypt’s 2030 Vision. There were numerous projects we already completed from different sectors such as ICT, finance, health, real estate, government, etc. Since the inception of Egypt’s 2030 Vision, several initiatives have already kicked-off and many mega projects are currently undergoing implementation. A network of more than 100 certified partners and integrators enables Datwyler to provide its premium-quality solutions and services to customers in every sector and in almost every country.

The Egyptian Health and Population Ministry said it anticipates that the peak of the sixth wave of coronavirus would be within about a month, local publication Egypt Independent reported. The fears of the emergence of a new wave have been raised after several countries have witnessed a noticeable increase in the infection with the coronavirus variant BA.5. The Scientific Committee to Combat the Coronavirus of the Ministry urged all civilians follow precautionary measures and adhere to home isolation for suspected infection. The Health and Population Ministry has set 10 rules for home isolation for a person infected with the coronavirus, the most prominent of which is that the isolated person be in a separate room and preferably has a private bathroom, and if there is no private bathroom in the isolated person’s room, that facemasks must be used when leaving the room or when entry of another person to the room.

CAIRO - 17 July 2022: The House of Representatives approved a new law to bypass 65 percent of fines, delay interest and additional tax on arrears of taxes, customs and real estate tax, provided that the original tax is paid before the end of next August, according to Finance Minister Mohamed Maait. “The door will be opened for filing tax disputes after the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday, and until the end of December of this year; this will help alleviate the burdens on the productive sectors in light of the negative repercussions of the war in Europe,” the Finance Minister said. “The recent amendments to the value-added tax law include exemptions that stimulate industry, including suspending the tax payment on machinery and equipment imported from abroad for use in industrial production for a period of one year from the date of their release and dropping them as soon as production begins,” according to the Minister of Finance. This is to encourage investment in economic zones of a special nature by not charging the goods or services imported for these projects with value-added tax, according to the Minister of Finance. The minister pointed out that the recent adjustments in the customs tariff also include reducing the “import tax” on more than 150 types of production inputs and requirements to stimulate the national industry.

Data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed on Saturday an increase in the value of trade exchange between Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) countries, recording $16.1bn during 2021, compared to $13.3bn in 2020 — an increase of $2.9bn or 21.7%. The agency also indicated that the value of Egyptian exports to GCC countries amounted to $4.5bn, compared to $5.4bn — a decrease of 16.8%. On the other hand, the value of Egyptian imports from GCC countries increased to $11.7bn in 2021, compared to $7.9bn in 2020 — an increase of $3.8bn or 47.9%. Additionally, CAPMAS indicated that the value of remittances from Egyptians working in GCC countries increased to $20.9bn during FY2020/21, compared to the previous FY’s $18.8bn — an increase of 11.1%. Also, yhe value of GCC investments in Egypt recorded $3.9bn, compared to $3.8bn — an increase of 1.9%.

The Egyptian government refuted rumors on Sunday that the country is suffering shortages and disappearances of food commodities due to the repercussions of the global food crisis. The Media Center of the Egyptian Cabinet said on Sunday that it had contacted the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade to verify these claims, which were spread online. The center stressed the availability of commodities of all kinds in all markets across the country, and there is a safe and sustainable strategic reserve of strategic and basic commodities for a period of no less than six months. It stressed the state’s ability to overcome the global crisis and provide safe and healthy food commodities to citizens without shortage or disappearance of any commodity from the markets. The media center said that if there are any complaints related to the shortage of basic supply commodities in the governorates, people should report to the hotline of the Consumer Protection Agency (19588).

Egypt’s government has discussed expanding the base of beneficiaries of social protection programs, preparing an exceptional social protection package to ease the burdens on vulnerable groups. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting on Saturday, to follow up the procedures for expanding the application of social protection programs, in the presence of Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, and Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Kabbaj. Madbouly said that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered a study to expand the base of beneficiaries of social protection programs and prepare an exceptional social protection package that takes into account the conditions of the vulnerable families, in an effort to ease the burdens on them in light of the high rates of inflation at this time. The Social Solidarity Minister indicated that the social protection programs adopted by the ministry aim to enhance investment in human capital and empower the most vulnerable groups. This would therefore contribute to meeting the needs and requirements of each age group by identifying appropriate protection mechanisms with the aim of responding effectively to their needs and its requirements, in order to achieve the proper social protection.

CAIRO - 17 July 2022: The cabinet's media center denied reports claiming that Egypt is suffering from a shortage of food commodities over the international food crisis. In a statement on Sunday, the center said it contacted the Supply Ministry which dismissed the news as baseless. The ministry underlined that all commodities are available in all markets nationwide, adding that reserves of staple and strategic commodities are at a safe level. The ministry said efforts are underway to establish seven regional strategic warehouses for staple commodities with an aim to increase food commodities reserves to cover local consumption for 8-9 months. The center called on social media users to verify the authenticity of the news circulated to avoid perplexing public opinion.

Egypt’s Transport Ministry invited the local and international private sector to invest in the various transport sectors, citing promising opportunities in the railways, the subway, and sea and land ports. The ministry added that the establishment and development of the Ministry of Transport’s projects is carried out by consultants and national Egyptian companies, with the help of foreign expertise for projects in which the companies and consulting offices do not have sufficient experience. It indicated that it is implementing a comprehensive plan to develop ports and establish stations and berths in them, as is currently happening in the ports of Alexandria, Daqhaliya, Damietta, Safaga and Ain Sukhna. The ministry cited its model of partnership with the Egyptian and foreign private sector in developing railways and their infrastructure and establishing new lines, including the 2,000-kilometre high-speed electric train network, by Egyptian companies in cooperation with Siemens International in the supply of mobile units and electromechanical systems. And the ministry said that it encourages Egyptian investors to enter the modern transportation industry, such as the metro, tractors and railway cars.

CAIRO – 16 July 2022: About 160,420 citizens received several medical treatment services through the National Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute, announced the Health and Population Ministry. The medical services were offered to the citizens from January 2022 until June 30, 2022, it added. Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, meanwhile, announced the provision of detection and treatment services to 100,000 citizens through the outpatient clinics. In the long term, equal opportunities must be ensured, while providing high-quality health and educational services and paying special attention to vulnerable groups, by using information technology and digital transformation effectively, he added. The Egyptian state has increased green projects in the investment plan for 2020/2021 to 15%, and 30% in the 2021/2022 fiscal year, Kamali revealed.

CAIRO – 16 July 2022: Presidential Adviser for Health Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag el Din asserted on Friday that most of the Covid-19 cases are under control and are treated at home. In statements to "Hadith Al Qahera" program aired by Al Qahera Wal Nas TV station, Tag el Din said that Egypt had entered the sixth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and that means hike in the number of cases in the country. He added that a number of countries had re-imposed precautionary measures after canceling them due to the rapid hike of Covid-19 cases. He also stressed the importance of abiding by precautionary measures, noting that Egypt had exerted great efforts to provide Covid-19 vaccines that increase vaccine-mediated protective immunity and ease coronavirus symptoms.

CAIRO – 16 July 2022: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Saturday with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, ahead of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received on Saturday President Sisi upon landing at the Jeddah airport to attend the Jeddah Summit. The summit is taking place on Saturday, 16 July, between leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the United States. It also seeks to strengthen and develop distinguished historical relations with all countries participating in the summit, the spokesman noted. Biden said Friday he will meet heads of state of nine Middle East countries on Saturday to discuss investing in the infrastructure field.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Saudi Arabia this morning to participate in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, which will bring together the leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US. Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman welcomed President Sisi upon arrival. The spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, Bassam Rady, explained that Sisi’s participation in the Jeddah summit comes through Egypt’s desire to strengthen partnerships between Arab countries and the US. Rady added that Sisi’s visit also aims to strengthen joint efforts to confront regional and global challenges, as well as consultation on efforts to maintain regional and international security – as well as strengthening and developing historical relations with all participating countries. The President will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders participating in the Jeddah Summit to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations with them, Rady said, as well as discuss the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.

CAIRO – 16 July 2022: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received on Saturday Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi upon landing at the Jeddah airport to attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. The summit is taking place on Saturday, 16 July, between leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the United States. It also seeks to strengthen and develop distinguished historical relations with all countries participating in the summit, the spokesman noted. US President Joe Biden, who will participate in Jeddah Summit, will meet with Sisi on Saturday afternoon, in Jeddah, White House officials told Extra News channel. The Saudi Crown Prince and Biden held an official talks session at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah on Friday and also chaired an expanded meeting for the two sides.