– Russia'sinvasion of Ukraine has intensified the risk of regional food insecurity – Many MENA countries source a significant share ofcerealimports from the region – In the GCC, government initiatives are seeking to bolster food self-sufficiency – North African agri-tech start-ups work to boostproductivity Nations in the MENA region have been intensifying…
While the construction sector in Egypt was temporarily paralysed during the early months of the pandemic, the infrastructure project pipeline has remained robust. The need to boost utilities and transport capabilities has helped the sector continue to grow and evolve. The collaborative nature of local and international firms working on key projects has made Egypt's construction sector one of the…
En Français – The continent saw growth this year, although its recovery remains fragile – A key issue is low vaccination rates, with much of the region still unvaccinated – The ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area is set to bolster trade – A positive outcome of the pandemic has been an expansion of 4IR technologies Driven by a combination of higher commodity prices,…
En Français Economic zones in Africa have had a significant impact on trade volumes across the continent, as well as on job creation and foreign direct investment inflows. The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement presents an opportunity to extend the activities of these zones and promote intra-African trade, developing regional value chains and industrial complementarity in the process. This…
On bolstering the strength and adaptability of Egypt’s construction sector In what ways has the company’s diversified portfolio contributed to its resiliency? SAYED FAROUK: Arab Contractors’ position as one of the oldest companies in the engineering, procurement and construction segment, as well as its diversified portfolio of construction and infrastructure works, has helped it remain resilient…
La pandémie a créé un besoin urgent de plus de capital patient en Afrique. Les gouvernements de tout le continent étant confrontés à des contraintes budgétaires tout en reconnaissant l'importance des investissements dans les infrastructures et les services essentiels, le PE et le VC offrent une voie intéressante pour le soutien financier. La pandémie a également accéléré la numérisation…
– Leading insurers are moving to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions policies – Companies are increasingly turning their backs on coal in particular – Emerging markets are shifting to renewables, with potential to leapfrog fossil fuels As environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns become increasingly important in the corporate world, insurance companies are emerging as potentially…
The importance of strong cybersecurity measures became more evident as companies shifted operations online amid the pandemic. The volume of additional transactions and communications in Egypt and the wider Middle East carried out over the internet exacerbated concerns about cyberthreats that existed before Covid-19; cybercrime in Egypt rose by 190% between 2012 and 2017, according to the Cabinet’s…
Like many countries, Egypt is adapting to the changing needs of employers by working to prepare a large youth population for indemand jobs – many of which require at least a basic set of tech skills. The public and private sectors are seeking to address the gap between the abilities of graduates and the needs of employers: in 2019 three technology universities were opened in New Cairo City, Quesna…
While blockchain is still in its infancy in Egypt, digital payments have gained traction in recent years as the authorities have worked to encourage financial inclusion and cashless transactions. Around 43.1m people made $10.25bn worth of digital payment transactions in 2019, up 13% by value that year, according to a report from We Are Social and Hootsuite. The study found that 32% of adults had…
