The transaction aligns with KFH-Egypt’s strategy of financing high-quality developments that support sustainable commercial growth. Exclusively designed for leasing, the new extension responds to rising demand from companies seeking integrated, high-specification work environments within District 5. District 5 offers direct access to retail destinations, banking services, dining outlets, and lifestyle facilities, creating a fully integrated and well-connected business environment. Reflecting this strong demand, MARAKEZ has established a waiting list for office space, highlighting sustained interest from companies seeking flexible, high-quality offices within a mixed-use destination. The upcoming expansion is designed to accommodate this growing demand while further strengthening District 5’s position as a leading commercial and business hub in East Cairo.

Bel Group has reinforced its commitment to Egypt with nearly €150m in investments focused on industrial excellence, digitalization, and advanced production technologies. The company’s 10th of Ramadan facility, covering 28,720 square meters, is central to Bel Group’s “two-legs” growth model, which balances sustainability with profitability. Bel Egypt produces six brands—The Laughing Cow, Kiri Triangles, Regal Picon, Picon, Les Enfants, and Nouvelle Vache—all aligned with the Group’s Positive Nutrition approach. Products are portion-controlled to reduce food waste, meet modern consumption habits, and adapt to local nutritional requirements. Garo Matossian, Cluster General Manager for Bel Middle East, said Bel Egypt plays a critical role in regional markets and contributes to Egypt’s economic development while advancing sustainable food systems.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced that the state-owned Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) has hosted a delegation from GenVax Egypt and China’s Minhai, as part of efforts to localise production of a key childhood vaccine. The visit aims to fast-track implementation of a “gap analysis” plan required to activate an existing agreement between VACSERA and GenVax Egypt. The contract focuses on the domestic manufacture of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on VACSERA’s local production lines. Discussions were attended by Amir Gouda, commissioner-general of the Egyptian Company for the Production of Sera, Vaccines and Drugs. El-Fil added that the initiative supports Egypt’s strategic goals of localising vaccine production and strengthening health security at both national and regional levels.

Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, said Egypt has decisively moved from a phase of stability to one of execution, noting that with macroeconomic stability restored, the focus has shifted to enhancing competitiveness, driving export-led growth and attracting private investment. The meeting was attended by Karim Awad, Group Chief Executive Officer of EFG Holding, alongside senior representatives of international investment institutions and Ghada Nour, Assistant Minister of Investment for Investment Affairs, Promotion and Government Offerings. He said Egypt’s economic reform programme rests on four integrated pillars: monetary policy, fiscal policy, trade policy, and redefining the role of the state as a regulator and enabler of economic activity. The objective, he said, is to achieve a competitive effective tax rate that enhances Egypt’s investment appeal. In this context, he said Egypt currently attracts average annual foreign direct investment of around $12bn, with a target to double this figure.

Egypt and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a $170m agreement for the second phase of the Private Sector Development and Economic Diversification Support Program (PSD-EDSP II) to support the state budget and advance structural reforms. The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, and AfDB Country Manager Abdourahmane Diaw signed the agreement on Monday. The deal includes an additional $400,000 (EGP 19m) grant to enhance environmental sustainability at the Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance Yasser Sobhi and Deputy Minister of Housing Sayed Ismail. The ministry previously announced that concessional financing to support the state budget between 2023 and 2026 amounts to approximately $9.5bn.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Monday urged the development of a unified and enlightened religious discourse to confront extremism and adapt Islamic outreach to the digital era, as Cairo hosted senior Islamic officials and scholars at an international conference. Outlining Egypt’s vision for religious discourse, the president stressed the need to prevent religion from being exploited by extremist groups that distort faith into violence, bloodshed, and destruction. In his closing message, the president called for a comprehensive and responsible religious discourse that confronts extremism and terrorism, safeguards nations, and supports development. During an interactive dialogue with participants, Al-Sisi and attending officials emphasized the promotion of moderation, the fight against extremism, and enhancing the standing of the Islamic world. They also underscored Egypt’s leadership role and the prominent position of Al-Azhar in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has ordered the immediate implementation of the “Medical Capital City for Hospitals and Educational Research and Training Institutes” following directives from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. During a meeting on Monday to track the project’s progress, Madbouly described the development as a significant addition to Egypt’s future that will provide a qualitative shift in national health services. The Prime Minister confirmed that the state has placed the improvement of health and education services at the top of its priority agenda. Regarding the management of the city, Abdel Ghaffar outlined proposals for a joint management model under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. The government remains focused on integrating technical and financial resources to ensure the city serves as a hub for medical training and community awareness initiatives.

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued regulations governing insurance operations covered by the Government Fund for Insurance against Risks Arising from Medical Errors, as part of efforts to enforce the provisions of the Unified Insurance Law and the Law Regulating Medical Liability and Patient Safety. Under the system, the fund will compensate beneficiaries for cases of death, disability, or bodily injury resulting from medical errors, in accordance with the terms of the issued insurance policy. Compensation may be provided directly by the fund or through contracts with one or more insurance companies or an insurance pool approved by the FRA. Premiums are set at EGP 9,600 for medical centres, EGP 3,600 for radiology centres, EGP 2,400 for laboratories, and EGP 1,200 for pharmacies. The fund may also contribute to covering other damages resulting from medical errors, excluding cases where medical liability is absent or where fraud or deception is involved.

Egyptian real estate developer Madinet Masr reported a strong performance in 2025, achieving record new sales of approximately EGP 52.1bn. During the year, the company sold 4,462 units, while the number of delivered units rose sharply to 1,941 units, compared with 645 units in 2024, representing a 201% year-on-year increase. Commenting on the performance, Abdallah Sallam, President and CEO of Madinet Masr, said the significant increase in deliveries marked a key milestone for the company. Throughout 2025, Madinet Masr continued to implement its expansion strategy through the launch of new projects and the formation of strategic partnerships, all of which recorded strong market demand. In addition, Madinet Masr introduced Elm Tree Park, developed over an area of 476,262 square metres, equivalent to 113 feddans, with total sales of EGP 20bn.

Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, and Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between Ahmed Amoui, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, and Abdelaziz El-Sherif, head of the Egyptian Commercial Service, as part of efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy. They noted that the next phase will see expanded cooperation between the Customs Authority and the Egyptian Commercial Service in the automated valuation of goods, through direct communication with foreign producers and suppliers. For his part, Ahmed Amoui said the protocol forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise the customs operating system, highlighting that cooperation with the Egyptian Commercial Service represents a key pillar in strengthening pre- and post-clearance verification mechanisms. Meanwhile, Abdelaziz El-Sherif said the protocol further reinforces existing cooperation between the two sides. He explained that commercial service offices abroad play a pivotal role in supporting requests from the Customs Authority to verify certificates of origin and commercial invoices, contributing to improved efficiency and transparency across Egypt’s foreign trade system.

Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enhance climate-resilient agricultural and rural development. The agreement, which operates under the framework of Egypt’s “NWFE” programme, was signed by Regine Qualmann, Country Director of GIZ Egypt, and Mohamed Abdelkader, Country Director of IFAD. The signing took place in the presence of Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Holger Illi, Head of German Cooperation at the German Embassy in Cairo. This cooperation aims to multiply development impact by aligning the technical expertise of GIZ with the financial capacity of IFAD to support rural communities. Al-Mashat stated that the partnership reflects a commitment to integrating water, food, and energy projects while aligning international cooperation efforts with national development targets.

Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, witnessed the signing of a contract to establish an integrated spinning and textile industrial complex in New October City, with initial investments estimated at $350m. The agreement was signed between Elsewedy Industrial Development and Crystal International Group, one of the world’s leading textile manufacturers. The industrial complex will feature an integrated production system encompassing the spinning of natural and synthetic fibres, yarn production, advanced weaving, textile processing, finishing, and dyeing. Representatives of Crystal International Group said Egypt was selected due to its advanced industrial infrastructure, availability of skilled labour, and strategic geographic location, which facilitates access to European, American, and Asian markets. For his part, Mohamed AlKammah said the project represents a major strategic addition to Egypt’s textile industry and reflects the confidence of leading global groups in the Egyptian investment climate.

Orion Consumer Finance (algo), a partnership between Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) and AUR Leasing and Factoring, has received approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to operate in Egypt’s consumer finance sector, after fulfilling all regulatory requirements set by the authority. The approval comes in line with the state’s efforts to expand non-banking financial services and enhance financial inclusion. For his part, Amir Soliman, Founder and CEO of Orion Consumer Finance (algo), said the company aims to bring a qualitative shift to the consumer finance landscape by offering flexible, fast, and secure financing solutions through simplified, non-traditional procedures. As part of its forward-looking strategy, the company plans to launch algo, its flagship SuperApp, designed as a lifestyle-driven consumer finance platform. The initiative aligns with TMG’s broader commitment to offering innovative, digital-first solutions that enhance customer experience and support the evolution of Egypt’s consumer finance market.

US President Trump has once again offered to intervene in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis. This is not the first time Trump has addressed or delved into the issue of the GERD. Yet, Ethiopia deliberately failed to present itself at the eleventh hour, and the issue was promptly sent back to square one. And what, in fact, did Trump do when the Ethiopians failed to show on the day of the final signing? Furthermore, Trump’s global track record hardly inspires confidence—from his dealings in Venezuela and Greenland to his meeting with the Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Machado.

From your time as Director-General of the ODA Research Centre to leading the KOICA Egypt Office, you have consistently acted as an “architect” of national-level strategies. It is both a privilege and a personal joy to lead the KOICA Egypt Office at this important stage of our shared development journey. To date, KOICA’s development portfolio in Egypt has reached $100m. Based on this framework, the KOICA Egypt Office developed its Country Plan, which aims to enhance capacity for sustainable development and reduce economic and social inequality. The Korea International Cooperation Agency views Egypt as a pivotal strategic partner and a cornerstone of its development cooperation efforts in the region.