Germany approves 80 million euro grant to Egypt
The two officials discussed joint cooperation in the near future and developments regarding ongoing programs. According to Mashat, the meeting discussed projects implemented under the first phase of the program at a value of 70 million euros. It also discussed projects agreed upon during the first and second tranches of the second phase at 90 million euros, in the fields of technical and vocational education, sanitation, water resources, electricity and recruitment. The two officials agreed to hold regular meetings to follow up all developments regarding Egyptian-German cooperation, including ongoing projects and the Egyptian-German debt swap program. It touched upon procedures related to signing letters on an initiative to support the private sector, through a three million euro grant towards the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 30, 2020 09:45 UTC
Egypt confirms 358 new coronavirus cases, total now 115,541
Egypt’s Health Ministry on Monday confirmed 358 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total number up to 115,541, Ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed announced. The ministry announced 15 deaths on Monday, bringing the country’s total COVID-19-related deaths to 6,636 nationwide. And 106 patients were discharged from quarantine at isolation hospitals, raising Egypt’s fully-recovered cases up to 102,596. Egypt’s government imposed in March strict precautionary measures to limit the outbreak of coronavirus, which included setting curfews, banning large gatherings, and closing restaurants, theaters, and cinemas. Several countries have imposed full lockdown measures following a second outbreak of the virus that began in October.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 30, 2020 09:00 UTC
Gold prices decline by LE36 per 21-karat gram
Gold prices declined in Egyptian markets, after the 21-karat gold gram opened trading in November 23 at LE813 and ended the week’s trading on November 28 at LE777 while the ounce started at US$1871, and fell to $1782, the Head of Gold Division at Chamber of Commerce in Monofya Eid Youssef announced on Saturday according to the al-Borsa website. Meanwhile, the price of a 24-karat gold gram reached LE888 while 18-karat gold gram recorded LE666. The price of a gold pound meanwhile amounted to LE6,216. Youssef credited the decline to the rising number of coronavirus cases worldwide. He added that the US administration will offer financial packages to limit the declining prices of gold and control inflation rates amid the second wave of the pandemic.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 15:00 UTC
Warm weather for Egypt on Monday
Meteorologists predict moderately warm weather during the daytime on Cairo, Lower Egypt and the northern coasts, with warmer weather on South Sinai and Upper Egypt on Monday. The weather will grow cold on Cairo, Lower Egypt, and the northern coasts, moderately cold on South Sinai, and very cold on Upper Egypt. Mists will affect visibility during morning hours on northern coasts, Lower Egypt, Cairo and northern Upper Egypt. Light to medium rainfall expected on the northwestern coasts in Salloum and Matrouh. Surface winds will be southwestern on the Mediterranean Sea, and northwestern on the Red Sea.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 14:26 UTC
Egypt’s chemical and fertilizer exports decline to US$4.15 billion over 10 months
Egypt’s exports of chemicals and fertilizers decreased by 4.8 percent during the first ten months of 2020, reaching $4.153 billion compared to $ 4.363 billion during the same period last year. Egypt’s exports of paper products decreased by 6.6 percent during the first ten months of 2020, hitting $408 million compared to $436.83 million prior. Exports of fertilizer products increased by 2.7 percent from January to October to reach about $1.146 billion compared to $1.116 billion during the same period in 2019. The value of Egypt’s exports of chemical industries and fertilizers to France rose to about $220 million during the first ten months of 2020 compared to $212.57 million, an increase of 3.4 percent. Italy’s fell by $213 million compared to $222.5 million during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.2 percent.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 13:07 UTC
Immigration Minister congratulates Egyptian dean for receiving ‘Order of Canada’
Minister of Immigration and Egyptians Affairs Nabila Makram on Friday congratulated the former dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Canada’s University of Windsor Hoda al-Maraghi, for obtaining the “Order of Canada” in recognition of her faculty’s contribution towards manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Makram personally phoned Maraghi and her husband to congratulate them, and said that “Egypt Can” proves itself with every achievement made by Egyptian scholars around the world. Maraghi is the only Egyptian in Canada – among 114 other candidates – to receive the order since it was officially awarded in 1967. The Canadian McMaster University listed Maraghi among several elite and famous graduates. Maraghi was previously awarded the “Ontario” medal for her scientific efforts in the field of engineering.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 12:22 UTC
10 messages Sisi sent from South Sudan
CAIRO – 29 November 2020: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi returned to Egypt Saturday after a one-day visit to South Sudan, where he met with President Salva Kirr and solidify joint relations. 6 – Egypt fully supports the efforts of President Salva Kiir and all the South Sudanese parties to achieve peace in the country. 7 – Egypt supports the efforts of the Government of National Unity to draft a new constitution that fulfills the aspirations of the people of South Sudan for peace, stability and development. 8 – Calling on the international community to fulfill its pledges and commitments to South Sudan as it marches towards a better future9 – Egypt supports the endeavors to eliminate international sanctions on South Sudan in a way that contributes to the ongoing political transitional process. 10 – Intensifying cooperation by transferring Egyptian expertise, providing technical support and building the capacities of national cadres in South Sudan.
Source:Egypt Today
November 29, 2020 11:37 UTC
Islamic Development Bank funded 258 projects in Egypt at LE11.64 billion cost, says Minister
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed on Saturday praised Egypt’s partnership with the Islamic Development Bank Group which over four decades, has funded 258 projects at a total cost of LE11.64 billion. These include 198 completed projects and 60 underway, covering energy, infrastructure, industry, financing, agriculture, health, and education. Said added that Egypt pays great attention cooperating with all its development partners, including those in the local and private sector, civil society and regional and international financing institutions, according to Ahram’s Arabic website. Egypt is also working alongside members of the bank such as the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit to fund development, secure investment and export credits.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 11:37 UTC
Prime Minister inspects progress of restoration at Egypt’s National Cancer Institute
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday requested that the ongoing restoration work for the National Cancer Institute be finalized as quickly as possible and to the utmost quality. A car loaded with explosives in August 2019 detonated in front of the National Cancer Institute, killing 20 people and injuring 47 others. Minister of Higher Education Khalid Abdel Ghafar informed the Prime Minister about the progress of rehabilitation on the institute’s main building, which is being done at a cost of LE100 million. The rehabilitation covers the medical building, floors, lecture hall, internal and external facades, emergency area, and the main entrance. He further inspected work being done to expand the emergency area at Qasr al-Ainy to include up to 113 beds for emergency cases.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 29, 2020 09:22 UTC
German Parliament approves Egypt's 3rd tranche of debt swap program for development worth €80M
CAIRO – 29 November 2020: The German Parliament recently approved the provision of the third tranche the debt swap program for development, which is worth €80 million and focuses on projects related to technical and vocational education and supporting job creation, according to Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat. This came during Al-Mashat’s virtual meeting with Director General of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Claudia Farning, to discuss development financing priorities for the coming period and the launch the third tranche of the debt swap program for development. Al-Mashat affirmed that the Ministry is committed to expand debt swap programs to reduce Egypt’s foreign debt through using these debts to finance development initiatives and achieve target 17.4 for Goal 17 for Partnerships for the Goals, related to assisting developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability. It was also agreed to hold regular meetings to monitor and follow up on the developments related to Egyptian-German cooperation, particularly in regards to the status of ongoing projects and the Egyptian-German debt swap program. The current cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Germany amounts to $956.8 million, across several sectors including water sanitation, SMEs, environment and clean energy.
Source:Egypt Today
November 29, 2020 08:26 UTC
Egypt's planning min. praises joint work with International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation
The closing ceremony, which was held via video conference, also witnessed the participation of the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi, and CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Hani Salem Sonbol. During the events, El-Said delivered a speech in which she expressed her happiness to participate in the closing ceremony in cooperation with the ITFC, one of the member institutions of the Islamic Development Bank Group. El-Said praised the remarkable development activity of the ITFC, as well as the good rate of implementation of the financing programs presented to Egypt. El-Said explained that this march is distinguished by its extended nature, as the financing cooperation between Egypt and the ITFC had already been established, with operations exceeding $11.7 billion. “This will enhance the ability of the two bodies to mitigate the economic repercussions of the pandemic,” El-Said explained.
Source:Egypt Today
November 28, 2020 17:26 UTC
Egypt’s Hala al-Saeed selected as best minister in the Arab world
Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed has been named the best minister in the Arab world. The Arab Government Excellence Award aims to recognize leading Arab ministers and ministries for their outstanding work in advancing governance and administrative practice in the region. The Arab Government Excellence Award is divided into 15 categories, divided further into two main categories: individuals and institutions. The individual awards include the categories of the best Arab minister, the best Arab governor, the best general director of an Arab body and institution, the best municipality director in Arab cities. The prizes that Egypt won included the best Arab minister, the Benban Solar Energy Project, the best Arab Governor award for Adel Ghadhban, Governor of Port Said, and the best Arab government employee in Noha Ahmed al-Sayed.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 28, 2020 15:45 UTC
No rains, mild weather expected for Egypt on Sunday
Meteorologists predict mild weather on Cairo, Lower Egypt, northern coasts, and northern Upper Egypt, while moderate on South Sinai and southern Upper Egypt during daytime on Sunday. Mists will affect visibility during morning hours on northern coasts, Lower Egypt, Cairo and northern Upper Egypt. Maximum temperaturesCairo and Alexandria: 22CQena and Luxor: 24CAswan: 25CWinds will be northwestern and moderate across most parts of Egypt. Waves in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea will be moderate, ranging between 1.5 and two meters in height. Surface winds will be southwestern on the Mediterranean Sea, while northwestern on Red Sea.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 28, 2020 15:33 UTC
Egypt to collect electronic waste from citizens for money: Minister
Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad announced Saturday that she has reached an agreement with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat to collect electronic waste from citizens in exchange for discounts on other electronic products. The director of Medical and Electronic Waste Project at the Environment Ministry, Tarek al-Araby, said that the ministry aims to collect electronic waste from the official sector as well. Araby explained that families typically sell electronic waste to mall-scale merchants of used products. Fouad said that her ministry has taken serious steps regarding electronic waste management in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology Khaled al-Attar said that an agreement is in place between Egypt and Switzerland to work together in managing electronic waste.
Source:Egypt Independent
November 28, 2020 15:22 UTC
Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs joins UFM regional forum
Addressing the forum, Abdel Atti underlined the importance of holding the forum on the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, launched in 1995. In 2008, the union provided a framework for the Barcelona Process. Meanwhile, Abdel Atti pointed out to the repercussions of Covid-19 pandemic for the Mediterranean region, stressing the need for promoting regional cooperation among Mediterranean countries. The union plays an important role in facing coronavirus impact through supporting economic integration in the region and attracting investments in order to provide job opportunities, he said. Within the framework of the union, Egypt is playing an active role as a main partner in all Mediterranean cooperation fields, he added.
Source:Egypt Today
November 28, 2020 15:00 UTC