The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics released its September 2023 “Foreign Trade Data” bulletin, revealing a 10.3% increase in the trade deficit, reaching $3.14bn compared to $2.84bn in the same month last year. Export values saw a 33.7% decline, amounting to $2.94bn in September 2023, down from $4.44bn the previous year. This drop is attributed to reduced exports of key commodities, including: ready-made clothes down by 11.1%, petroleum products down by 68.2%, fertilizers down by 65.9%, and plastics in primary forms down by 36.5%. Import values decreased by 16.5%, totaling $6.08bn in September 2023, a drop from $7.28bn in the same period last year. However, imports for certain commodities experienced an increase, such as: petroleum products up by 14.9%, primary forms of iron or steel up by 27.0%, liquefied natural gas up by 27.2%, and motor vehicles up by 156.6%.

A number of Egyptian citizens abroad cast their ballot in the 2024 Presidential ElectionsCAIRO – 7 December 2023: Egypt’s National Election Authority (NEA) has urged Egyptians to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Elections scheduled for 10-12 December. Bendari confirmed the NEA’s registration of 14 international organizations and 63 local organizations to observe the elections. Also, the authority approved requests of 24 embassies, 67 diplomats, 68 local groups, and 22,340 local followers to follow the process. Bendari said that the NEA has approved requests from 115 media platforms to cover the elections. Egypt is geared up for holding the 2024 Presidential Elections for citizens in the country from Sunday 10 December until Tuesday 12 December a few days after the three-day voting process for Egyptians abroad was concluded.

For businesses lacking an online presence, such as small cafes, grocery stores, and family-run farm product manufacturers, embracing online sales could lead to growth and increased profits. Online Sales: A Gateway to Business ExpansionIn 2022, e-commerce accounted for 19% of global sales, a number expected to reach 25% by 2027. Accessible Online Sales PlatformsBusinesses without websites can easily enter e-commerce through online marketplaces, catering to both end-users and B2B transactions. Benefits of Outsourced Delivery ServicesOutsourcing delivery to couriers or freight services can lead to up to 40% savings on transport costs. Key Considerations for Delivery Services:

High-level climate champion Mahmoud Mohieldin took center stage at COP28 in Dubai, urging for a swift and equitable scaling-up of climate finance in Africa. Moderating the session “Africa’s Sustainable Future: Mobilizing Climate Finance at Scale,” Mohieldin emphasized the critical need to bridge the gap between climate and development funding. He advocated for a holistic approach that recognizes climate action as an integral part of development, and climate finance solutions as drivers for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He further stressed the urgency of accelerating climate action and setting clear timelines for financing and implementing initiatives. By mobilizing funding, providing technical assistance, and fostering enabling regulatory frameworks, stakeholders can collectively propel Africa’s sustainable future through robust, equitable climate finance.

Shoukry made the remarks during his meeting on Wednesday with US Republican Representative Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. The meeting was held as part of the foreign minister’s current visit to the United States. Shoukry expressed Egypt's aspiration to enhance coordination and consultation with the US in light of strategic relations and partnership between them, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said. Meanwhile, the US lawmaker highlighted the elements of convergence between the Egyptian and US positions on regional issues, praising Cairo’s efforts to enhance regional security and stability. He also affirmed his full support for strengthening aspects of Egypt-US relations.

CAIRO – 6 December 2023: ONE ORPHEUS container ship resumed its voyage in the Suez Canal normally after repairing a fault with its rudder and making sure that it is technically ready for shipping, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie said. In a statement released on Wednesday, Rabie added that six ships that were stranded behind ONE ORPHEUS will also resume their passage through the international waterway. The Suez Canal is ready to deal with such navigation emergencies and technical malfunctions, the official noted.

These include tax exemptions of 33% to 55% for income from green hydrogen projects initiated within the next five years. The government is also committed to increasing the use of green financing tools, to direct 50% of government investments towards environmentally sustainable projects. To diversify sustainable financing, Egypt has issued “panda” bonds worth CNY 3.5bn in the Chinese market and “samurai” bonds totaling JPY 75bn in the Japanese market, earmarked for eco-friendly investments. Furthermore, Egypt has secured approximately $1.5bn in financing from international institutions, supporting the nation’s climate change goals amidst global economic challenges. This shortfall highlights the urgent need for increased climate financing and the economic implications of the green transformation.

Sherif Farouk, Chairperson of Egypt Post, announced on Tuesday that the Authority’s Board of Directors ratified the budget for the fiscal year 2022/23, showcasing a remarkable net surplus of EGP 4.4bn. Under Farouk’s leadership, Egypt Post has achieved significant milestones in the past three years. The Authority has recorded a net profit of EGP 4.4bn, marking a net profit growth rate of 21%. Service revenues have also seen a substantial increase, reaching EGP 5bn with a similar growth rate of 21%. These initiatives have significantly bolstered Egypt Post’s position in the market, restoring customer confidence and reclaiming its deserved market share.

(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has affirmed Egypt's commitment to receiving and coordinating international aid for the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made during President Al-Sisi's meeting with Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, at the Ittihadiya Palace on Tuesday. Additionally, the meeting addressed the regional dynamics, notably the tensions in the Gaza Strip. President Al-Sisi reviewed Egypt's initiatives to secure a lasting ceasefire in the area, underscoring the international community's responsibility in this matter. President Al-Sisi also highlighted Egypt's extensive efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza's residents and reiterated the nation's preparedness to facilitate all international assistance destined for the Strip.

CAIRO - 6 December 2023: Egypt continues its efforts to support the Palestinian people during their humanitarian crisis. - The Egyptian Red Crescent coordinates with the agencies concerned to receive aid and provide the necessary support to bring aid into the strip. - Egypt has voiced concern about the continuation of Israeli military operations in the southern Gaza Strip and the continued targeting of civilians. - Egypt emphasizes the necessity of an immediate ceasefire to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the necessity of returning to the political path to end this war. Egypt also urges the opening the way for the largest amount of humanitarian and medical aid, especially with a number of hospitals stopping work, especially in the northern Gaza Strip area.

Egypt - Central Bank of Egypt Governor Hassan Abdalla and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met on the sidelines of COP28, reaffirming their commitment to economic stability and private sector growth. Despite regional and global challenges, the meeting highlighted Egypt’s economic resilience and its ongoing efforts to empower the private sector as a key driver of development. Structural reforms in fiscal and monetary policy were also central to the discussion. Georgieva lauded the Central Bank’s handling of monetary policy during these “exceptional times,” hinting at an increase in Egypt’s IMF loan to mitigate the impact of external factors and crises. She pledged the IMF’s continued “distinguished cooperation” to support the country’s economic trajectory.

The voting process will be preceded by electoral silence starting at 12 a.m. on December 8, 2023. At the mean time, political parties and forces are working to intensify their public activities to support their candidates before the start of the electoral silence period. Some of them also launched campaigns to encourage electoral participation and raise awareness of its importance, and work on it during the remaining period with the aim of addressing various segments of Egyptians. Politicians confirmed that the 2024 presidential elections are the real beginning of serious political reform, to which the state has paid attention during the recent period and this was strongly crystallized in the national dialogue sessions. Meanwhile, the Progressive Youth Union, the youth wing of the Tagammu Party, launched a campaign entitled “We Will All Participate” to urge Egyptians to participate in the 2024 presidential elections.

MANCHESTER, England, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he still feels his side are going to win the Premier League for a record fourth year in a row despite drawing their last three games. "My feeling today is we will win the Premier League," Guardiola told reporters ahead of City's match on Wednesday at Unai Emery's fourth-placed Aston Villa. We know that it is not easy, no team has done it yet (four Premier League titles in a row) and that is why the difficulty is there." Guardiola said he was concerned about the goals conceded but the statistics compared well to last season, when City won a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. City also have Jack Grealish suspended for the match at Villa, who have won their last 13 home league games.

Egypt has voiced strong condemnation of Israel’s recent decision to authorize the establishment of a new settlement enclave in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem. This move is seen as a blatant breach of international laws and United Nations Security Council resolutions that declare Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories illegal. In a statement released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt firmly denounced Israeli settlement policies across all occupied Palestinian lands, including East Jerusalem. Egypt urged Israel to cease its unlawful settlement activities immediately. Furthermore, Egypt reiterated its appeal to key international stakeholders, the United Nations, and associated agencies to uphold their duties in safeguarding Palestinian rights and to halt Israeli unilateral settlement ventures that jeopardize the peace process’s future and the resolution of core issues between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Egypt expressed on Tuesday its approval of the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 2714, enacted on 1 December 2023, which revokes the arms embargo on Somalia that has been in place since 1992. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement acknowledging that this resolution marks a significant step forward for the Somali government in its ongoing battle against terrorism and its pursuit of stability. Egypt reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Somali Federal Government’s endeavors to reestablish security and stability, as well as to foster development within the fraternal nation of Somalia. This support is anticipated to have a beneficial influence on the security and stability of the Horn of Africa region.