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Another deadly crash in Menoufia
Menoufia’s regional road once again dominated the airwaves after another tragic crash claimed the lives of nine and injured 10 others. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has ordered the government to close parts of the regional ring road currently undergoing maintenance to ensure public safety and accelerate upgrade works. El Sisi also directed the Interior Ministry to take legal action against violators and intensify enforcement of speed and weight limits nationwide.Adib backs El Sisi’s decision: El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 02:18) supported El Sisi’s order, saying “I know Egyptian officials are used to ignoring public calls, but what the president did today protects the country.” ICYMI- Another deadly crash in Menoufia last week claimed the lives of 19 young girls, triggering public anger over road conditions.MPs should summon officials: Adib questioned why no officials have been called to stand before the parliament despite repeated accidents on the road, noting that “this would reassure Egyptians.” (watch, runtime: 01:39).

Sunday, 6 July 2025

Old Rent Law amendments back under the spotlight
The proposed amendments to the Old Rent Law dominated talk show coverage last night, with Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 03:58), El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 03:34), and Ala Masouleety’s Ahmed Moussa (watch, runtime: 1:30) all weighing in on the issue before the House continues its discussions of the amendments during today’s session. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Where’s the data? Moussa criticized the government for failing to provide MPs with clear data on old rent tenants during yesterday’s session, wondering “how can the government be present in parliament to discuss one of the country’s most important laws and not have any statistical data?” He voiced concerns over the accuracy of any figures the government may present today.

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Authorities respond to the deadly Menoufia accident
The Menoufia accident continued to dominate the airwaves last night with El Hekaya (watch, runtime: 3:20) and Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 8:49) both giving it screentime. El Hekaya’s correspondent revealed five other accidents occurred on the same road where last week’s fatal crash took place yesterday morning alone. Meanwhile, cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El Homsani told Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal that the Transport Ministry would “accelerate timelines and secure the needed resources to finish road maintenance as soon as possible.” (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)El Wazir promises rapid fixes: Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir pledged urgent action to overhaul the regional ring road where the accident occurred, according to a ministry statement. El Wazir ordered his deputy to oversee a full upgrade of the entire 400 km route and instructed the Roads and Bridges Authority to increase safety measures day and night and coordinate with the Interior Ministry to drug test truck and microbus drivers nationwide.ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- Regional diplomacy in focus: Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed regional developments with Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 2:01), noting that the conditions for reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza are “more favorable now” as international actors, especially the US, increasingly recognize Egypt’s view that all regional issues are interconnected and that true security requires solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abdelaaty said the current agreement under discussion includes a first phase featuring a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of some hostages and the entry of humanitarian and medical aid into Gaza, with hopes this will pave the way to implementing the second phase of the January agreement and a sustained ceasefire.

Monday, 30 June 2025

19 dead in Menoufia accident
It was a sombre night on the airwaves last night, with the nation’s talking heads covering the deadly accident in Menoufia on Friday — a truck crashed into a microbus — which resulted in 19 deaths.Pointing fingers: The accident raised questions regarding road safety in Egypt, with El Hekaya’s Amr Adib putting Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir under the spotlight (watch, runtime: 1:24 | 3:23). He also addressed (watch, runtime: 1:26) Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly — “Dear Prime Minister, I hope the next time a tragic incident occurs, we find you standing by the people instead of investors … I don’t know how you slept last night or how you will sleep tonight.” Lamees El Hadidi pointed to the need to hold someone accountable — “being a leading figure is about more than just cutting the red tape or celebrating achievements … you need to be held accountable when a mistake is made,” she said (watch, runtime: 0:37). She also criticized how the government handled the situation (watch, runtime:0:45) — “Madbouly didn’t offer a single word of condolence during his public appearances [yesterday] … where did the government disappear off to?” Compensation for victims’ families increased: Labor Minister Mohamed Gobran told Kelma Akhira that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has ordered an increase in compensation for each of the victims’ families to EGP 500k from EGP 100k and EGP 70k for each injured person (watch, runtime: 7:28).

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Last Night’s Talk Shows on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict
Talk shows last night were dominated with coverage of the exchange of air and missile strikes between Israel and Iran, which began when Tel Aviv launched a devastating attack on Iran’s nuclear and missile program on Friday morning. Tehran responded with a wide-scale attack, and the strikes between the two sides continued at the time of writing.“Iran’s response to the Israeli attack was different this time — it surprised everyone, including Israel, and caused the biggest losses in a long time. Tel Aviv was bombarded with hundreds of ballistic missiles. Although many were intercepted by the Iron Dome, Israel couldn’t hide the scenes of destruction," said Lamees El Hadidi on Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime: 9:37), adding “Israelis lived a night of terror. Scenes Tel Aviv had never witnessed before — but Palestinians did. Israel wants to continue this for two weeks, but can its citizens endure it?” El Hadidi questioned.“The Iranian-American negotiations were deceptive — a cover to dismantle the nuclear program on the ground through Israel, rather through negotiations," said political analyst Abdel Moneim Said during a phone call with El Hadidi on the same show (watch, runtime: 11:03).“Israel’s goal is to eliminate its enemies one after another,” Said said. “I fear that Israel may later clash with other regional neighbors, as it is determined to follow its own goal to eliminate the Palestinian cause through displacement while eliminating militias too. It has already inflicted serious wounds on Hezbollah and Hamas,” he added. “Egypt is one of the powers that Israeli media, at some point, has tried to meddle with by discussing its armament. Every Egyptian fears for their country when thinking about worst-case scenarios. They [Israel] want to displace Palestinians in Gaza”. Said told El Hadidi. “The region’s situation is critical and requires integrity, and Egypt is demonstrating that through its positions grounded in international law,” he added.The recent escalation received wide coverage across other talks shows, including:El Hekaya (watch, runtime: 20:58 | 27:04)Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 29:20)Ala Masouleety (watch, runtime: 1:21:25)

Sunday, 15 June 2025

El Wazir takes Moussa and viewers on a cross-country infrastructure tour
Ala Masouleety dedicated the full night yesterday to a tour of Egypt’s transport and logistics infrastructure, with host Ahmed Moussa being led around the country’s ongoing projects by Transport and Industry Minister Kamel El Wazir (watch, runtime: 2:25:28). The minister showcased new and under-construction projects over the 2.5 hours televised tour — from BRT bus lanes in Greater Cairo to cargo railways and African trade routes — which he described as Egypt’s vision for integrated, export-led development.

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

Kouchouk previews new export subsidy plan on the airwaves
The upcoming export support program for the next fiscal year got some airtime on Lamees El Hadidi’s Kelma Akhira last night, with Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk phoning to give us a preview of some key features of the program before they’re formally announced in a presser later today (watch, runtime: 9:56). The new program will be fully funded and pre-allocated in the state budget — a step aimed at avoiding payment delays and ensuring exporters know subsidy values ahead of time, he explained.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Kouchouk said the three-year program was crafted in coordination with the Investment Ministry and all export councils, in a process he described as a “fully coordinated effort.” He added that the new framework will bring in more beneficiaries than previous iterations.The minister gave us an insight into the IMF fifth review of our loan program, telling El Hadidi that negotiations are progressing “very well,” with a few final points currently under review. “We’re hopeful that the fifth disbursement will arrive with the start of the new fiscal year,” he said.El Hadidi also congratulated Kouchouk on being named African Finance Minister of the Year by the African Leadership Magazine in their 2025 awards. “Business leaders and economic figures say you’ve made a revolution in finance and tax,” she said.

Tuesday, 3 June 2025

Pyramids FC’s first ever CAF Champions League title dominated the airwaves
It was all cheers on the airwaves last night as the nation’s hosts celebrated Pyramids FC’s historic win in the CAF Champions League. The Egyptian team beat South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 (3-2 in aggregate) to clinch the title for the first time in the club’s history, becoming the fourth ever Egyptian team to claim the title after Ismaily, Al Ahly, and Zamalek.“We should be proud of what Pyramids have accomplished and celebrate this incredible achievement — it’s a team that fought until the very end,” said El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 8:37). Lamees El Hadidi called on all those who tuned to her show Kelma Akhira to celebrate the win, arguing that “we should be happy — it’s another title for Egypt” (watch, runtime: 0:40).President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also showed his support, congratulating Pyramids FC and Egyptian football fans on the “historic achievement” in an Ittihadeya statement. “This victory embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance that has always characterized Egyptian sports,” he said.

Monday, 2 June 2025

All about the ICT Ministry’s Digilians Initiative
The ICT Ministry’s Digilians Initiative dominated the airwaves last night after it was the main talking point during a meeting between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and ICT Minister Amr Talaat. The initiative will launch in September and aims to train 10k people of different backgrounds free of charge on technical, personal, linguistic, life, and leadership skills on an annual basis. The initiative will cost EGP 3 bn in its first year and EGP 1 bn annually after that, Talaat told Yahduth Fi Masr’s Sherif Amer (watch, runtime: 11:50). Ala Masouleety’s Ahmed Moussa also has coverage (watch, runtime: 10:48). (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

Thursday, 29 May 2025

El Sisi, Sanchez’s call took over the airwaves last night
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s phone call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez dominated the airwaves last night, with the nation’s talking heads dedicating airtime to the conversation between the two leaders. The conversation centered around the situation in Gaza, developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Libya, with both sides stressing the importance of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the countries. Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 1:06) and Masa’a DMC (watch, runtime: 0:57) had coverage. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

All about El Sisi’s meeting with the US Chamber Business delegation
A single topic dominated the airwaves last night: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s meeting with the US Chamber Business Delegation that was in town for the US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum was the main talking point among the nation’s talking heads, receiving coverage from Ala Masouleety’s Ahmed Moussa (watch, runtime: 21:44) and Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 1:35 | 1:22). The meeting saw El Sisi present the potential investments available in Egypt and the US side “affirm their keenness to capitalize on the promising opportunities offered by the Egyptian market and economy to achieve common interests.”

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

The US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum took over the airwaves last night
The nation’s talking heads took to the airwaves to discuss day one of the US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum, which brought together members of the Madbouly cabinet and a US Chamber Business delegation. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)The forum helped familiarize the American business community with Egypt’s recent reforms and economic progress, Planning Minister Rania Al Mashat told Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 4:36), adding that the country aims to position manufacturing and exports as key sectors driving growth. Clearing the confusion on halal certification: The halal certification exemption only applies to dairy products — meat and poultry imports still require certification, Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk told El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 7:06). “We ensure that all meat in Egypt is slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines,” he said, adding that dairy, however, is produced from living animals, so there is no such thing as halal or non-halal dairy products.Why was the policy there in the first place? Cabinet spokesman Mohamed El Homsani broke it down further on Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 19:57), saying that the halal certificate requirement for dairy was a precautionary measure that proved unnecessary and scrapping it would mean lower costs for importers and consumers. WANT THE FULL RUNDOWN? We dive into all that went down during day one of the forum in the news well, above. ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- Qena witnessed a blackout that Electricity Ministry spokesperson Mansour Abdel Ghany ruled as an accident that has been fixed and shouldn’t recur on Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime: 11:49).

Monday, 26 May 2025

Minya explosion + earthquakes dominated the talk shows last night
It was a less than cheerful night on the airwaves last night, with the nation’s talking head covering a minor gas explosion in Minya that occurred when a gas cylinder exploded. The explosion left one of the two men carrying it with severe injuries and the other with less-severe ones, El Hekaya’s Amr Adib reported (watch, runtime: 5:46 | 0:57). The accident didn’t result in any damage. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)STAYING ON THEME- Experts took to the airwaves to calm earthquake fears. While more than one earthquake was felt this month, experts say Egypt remains far from major seismic zones. Geology professor at Benha University Zakaria Hamimi told Adib (watch, runtime: 14:10) that most earthquakes originate from the Anatolian plate near Crete and are rarely strong enough to cause damage in Egypt. Chair of the Seismology Department at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics Sherif El Hady also chimed in, telling Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 10:23) that Egypt’s Delta region may feel tremors more due to its soft soil, explaining that no aftershocks or tsunami risks are expected following the recent earthquakes.AND- Adib voiced his frustration with real estate telemarketing, calling on the National Telecom Regulatory Authority to find a solution to the issue (watch, runtime: 2:23). “I am talking on behalf of mns who are extremely unhappy with these telemarketers.”

Sunday, 25 May 2025

All about the Mostaqbal Misr’s industrial zone
A glimpse at the Mostaqbal Misr Industrial Zone: The nation’s talking heads spent a lot of time covering the inauguration of the first phase of Mostaqbal Misr’s industrial zone and the beginning of the wheat harvest season. The 2 mn-feddan project is expected to see its area more than double by 2027, Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk told Yahduth Fi Misr’s Sherif Amer (watch, runtime: 9:30).(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Mostaqbal Misr is getting an additional 800k feddan for agricultural purposes by September, Ala Mas’ouleety’s Ahmed Moussa reports (watch, runtime: 3:37).

Thursday, 22 May 2025

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was in town
Two main topics dominated the airwaves last night: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s time in Egypt and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and MSA University founder Nawal El Degwi’s recent house robbery and the ongoing investigations.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)El Sisi and Aoun talk regional issues: The two leaders discussed regional issues of common interest, namely Lebanon and Gaza — El Sisi reiterated Egypt’s support for Lebanon as it works to achieve stability and preserve its sovereignty. El Sisi called for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territories. Aoun stressed the importance of Lebanese stability for the region, calling for the Arab and international community to unite on the issue/The joint presser the two leaders held following their meeting got coverage from Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 2:09), Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 2:03), and Ala Mas’ouleety’s Ahmed Moussa (watch, runtime: 6:52).ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- El Degwi believes she was robbed of EGP 50 mn, USD 3 mn, GBP 350k, and 15 kg of gold when her second home in 6th of October was broken into and her safes had their combinations changed. With the authorities still unable to open the safes, it remains unclear if the money and gold were stolen or if the combination was just changed. “El Degwi suspects one of her grandchildren stole the money and changed the passwords of the safes where she kept her belongings,” Al Masry Al Youm managing editor Yousry El Badry told El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 11:57). Moussa (watch, runtime: 9:46) and El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 11:16) also had coverage.

Tuesday, 20 May 2025

IMF Deputy Managing Director’s visit dominated last night’s talk shows
It was a mixed bag on the airwaves last night, with a few stories capturing the attention of the nation’s talking heads. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Talks with the IMF: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly held a presser (watch, runtime: 12:41) with IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke, who is in town along with an accompanying delegation as part of the fund’s fifth review of Egypt’s Extended Fund Facility Arrangement. During the presser, Clarke touched on efforts to bring down inflation and unemployment rates. Clarke also held talks with Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk and central bank governor Hassan Abdalla for further discussions on the fifth review.REMEMBER- The fifth review has been underway for a couple of weeks now — a team from the IMF arrived in Cairo early May to kick things off. The date for the conclusion of the review and the subsequent disbursement of the USD 1.3 bn tranche is yet to be decided, but it could be agreed upon within the next month, our sources previously told us.On the airwaves: Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed El Homsani joined Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal (watch, runtime: 2:03) to discuss the loan program and Madbouly’s meeting with Clarke.AND- President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Senior Advisor to the US President for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs Massad Boulos to discuss ways to restore regional stability. El Sisi stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid, while commending ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, the US, and Qatar. They also touched on the situation in Libya, Lebanon, Sudan, and Yemen. Al Hayah Al Youm had coverage (watch, runtime: 2:42).ALSO- Lawyers are still on strike over court fee hikes, with court operations heavily disrupted as a result, adding pressure to an already overburdened judicial system, El Hekaya’s Amr Adib said (watch, runtime: 11:10).

Monday, 19 May 2025

El Sisi attends Baghdad Summit
All about El Sisi’s time in Baghdad: The nation’s talking heads had a lot of coverage for President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s participation in the Arab Summit hosted in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Saturday. El Sisi’s speech during the summit focused on Egypt’s positions on several regional issues — Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan. Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 11:17) described the president’s remarks as “the most important at the summit,” adding that he made it clear there can be no peace in the region without a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause – even if Israel normalizes ties with all Arab countries.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Arab Summits under the spotlight: El Hadidi questioned the point of holding summits like the Arab Summit, pointing out that only a handful of heads of state showed up. She criticized the final summit statement as “highly traditional” and ineffective. Ala Mas’ouleety’s Ahmed Moussa also had coverage the summit (watch, runtime: 3:16 | 1:37).ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- The BRT trial operations kick off: The bus rapid transit (BRT) is now in its pilot phase ahead of opening to the public. The first 35-km stretch runs from the Police Academy in New Cairo to the Alexandria Agricultural Road. Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir joined Moussa (watch, runtime: 44:00) to share the ins and outs of the trial phase. Trial runs for the first phase have already started without passengers and the first phase should officially launch operations on 1 June, he said, adding that the second phase will kick off trial operations in August. No more microbuses on the Ring Road? El Wazir said microbuses will be banned from the Ring Road starting 1 June as part of the BRT rollout. Some 300k people are expected to use the BRT daily, with tickets priced at EGP 5 for every four stops. The company operating the system will eventually be listed on the EGX, according to El Wazir. REMEMBER- The EGP 10 bn BRT project aims to replace microbuses and other forms of public transport on the Ring Road. AND- Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk spoke to El Hadidi to debunk reports that 30% of the nation’s poultry has perished due to outbreaks and vaccine shortages (watch, runtime: 19:04). “The reports are completely untrue,” he said, adding that the mortality rate remains within the normal 3-6% range, driven by seasonal weather changes. He also appeared on El Hekaya’s Amr Adub to discuss the issue (watch, runtime: 12:25).

Sunday, 18 May 2025

What would a US-China tariff truce mean for Egypt?
What happens if the US-China trade war really ends? That question was at the center of Amr Adib’s discussion with economic expert Mohamed Fouad on El Hekaya (watch, runtime: 4:07). Fouad explained how a de-escalation in tensions between the world’s two largest economies could hit Egypt.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)The downside: Fouad explained that global oil prices are beginning to rise, gold prices are falling, and the USD index is strengthening — all of which could spell pressure on Egypt’s exchange rate. Since gold accounts for 26% of Egypt’s foreign reserves, its declining value could weigh on reserve strength, he said.Despite the challenges, Fouad said the truce could carry some upside for Egypt. He noted that Egyptian industry and exports could still benefit from shifts in global trade flows, while higher oil prices — though a budgetary strain for Egypt — could bolster the economies of key trade partners. He also pointed to improving investor sentiment, particularly among those who had previously withdrawn from emerging markets.READ MORE- We have the details of the US-China truce agreement in this morning’s Planet Finance. ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- El Sisi meets AfDB chief: Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 6:09) and Al Youm (watch, runtime: 0:37) had coverage of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s sit-down with African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina. The meeting saw El Sisi praising Adesina’s decade-long efforts to expand the bank’s role in funding development efforts across the continent.

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Al Mashat joins Adib for a conversation on the government’s fiscal goals
A conversation with Al Mashat: Planning Minister Rania Al Mashat joined El Hekaya’s Amr Adib for a discussion about the government’s fiscal goals, saying the state is working on closing the funding gap through macroeconomic stabilization, FDI attraction, and enhanced competitiveness (watch, runtime: 5:16). On the tariffs front, Al Mashat pointed out that a resolution to trade tensions between the US and China would help developing countries like Egypt by boosting global investment flows and market stability (watch, runtime: 6:30).(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)ALSO- The Old Rent Law debate continues: Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi had coverage (watch, runtime: 13:27) of the growing criticism surrounding the proposed amendments to the Old Rent Law, with both tenants and landlords voicing objections and raising questions over the fairness of the current draft. Ayman Essam, legal advisor to the Old Rent Tenants Association, suggested tying rent hikes to the year each lease was signed — a proposal he floated during a phone-in with El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 3:06).The clock is ticking: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahmoud Fawzi told Adib (watch, runtime: 1:17) that the government would like to see the law amendments passed by the House during the current legislative cycle due to the Constitutional Court ruling that requires amending the system.

Monday, 12 May 2025

Madbouly orders investigation into adulterated fuel claims
It was a busy night on the airwaves, with the nation’s talking heads bringing us coverage of fuel drama, Takaful and Karama updates, and some startup news. (Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Madbouly orders probe into adulterated fuel claims: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly addressed the fuel contamination allegations during his weekly presser last week, saying he had instructed Oil Minister Karim Badawi to conduct a full investigation into the claims and make the results public.The Oil Ministry has received some 681 complaints from across the country related to the alleged adulterated fuel, ministry spokesperson Moataz Atef told El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 2:58). So far, the tests conducted showed that samples meet specifications, but investigations are still ongoing..ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- Local fintech startup Bokra Holding plans to launch EGP 20 bn in SME-focused financing by the end of the year, founder and CEO Ayman Elsawy told Cairo Weekend’s Zeina Soufan (watch, runtime: 12:26), naming healthcare, agritech, education, and logistics as priority sectors. That’s not all: The company is also planning to roll out real estate and gold investment funds in real estate and gold metals by 3Q 2025, backed by sharia-compliant debt instruments, Elsawy said, adding that the move aims to tap into Egyptians’ longstanding affinity for gold and real estate as value-preserving assets. The real estate fund will be worth around EGP 2 bn, while the gold fund is expected to launch with a size of EGP 50-100 mn, Elsawy said. WANT MORE OF ELSAWY? We interviewed the founder and CEO for our My Morning Routine column last month. Check out the interview here.AND- Private equity outfit Ezdehar is looking to acquire two companies in 4Q 2025 — including one in the ready-made garments industry, Managing Director Emad Barsoum told Cairo Weekend (watch, runtime: 1:12). The firm is targeting USD 70-80 mn in new investments through 1Q 2026.

Sunday, 11 May 2025

Gold investment funds and policy coordination dominate the airwaves
Beware, unlicensed investment channels: In a refreshing break from the Old Rent Law, the nation’s talking heads shifted their attention to the Financial Regulatory Authority’s latest statement warning people against unlicensed investment schemes. Masa’a DMC interviewed FRA Head Mohamed Farid (watch, runtime: 11:39), who explained that there are only three licensed gold investment funds on the market with combined investments exceeding EGP 2.1 bn and over 200k investors. Farid said the numbers reflect growing public trust in regulated investment channels.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)AND- El Sisi calls for tighter fiscal-monetary coordination. DMC’s Al Youm covered President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Central Bank Governor Hassan Abdalla, and Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk (watch, runtime: 1:13). During the meeting, El Sisi stressed the importance of aligning fiscal and monetary policies together and with the state’s economic vision, boosting FX reserves, and covering development financing needs — while sustainably lowering public and external debt levels.

Wednesday, 7 May 2025

How are Old Rent Law discussions unfolding at the House?
The Old Rent Law was the main talking point on the airwaves for the nth night running, as parliamentary discussions over the proposed amendments to the law continued to unfold.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)Skepticism over the data underpinning the law: Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi had coverage (watch, runtime: 1:28) of growing debate in the House over the reliability of the 2017 data from state statistics agency Capmas used to draft the amendments. One MP told Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Asal (watch, runtime: 6:10) that several lawmakers have requested updated figures from Capmas on the number of residential units still under the old rent system.If the amendments don’t pass, contracts under the old rend system will be nullified, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahmoud Fawzy told MPs during their discussion of the amendments, explaining that the move would come as a result of the Constitutional Court ruling that deemed fixed rents unconstitutional. Al Hayah Al Youm had coverage (watch, runtime: 3:23).

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

The Old Rent Law remains the hot topic on the airwaves
The Old Rent Law was once again the main talking point on the airwaves last night after the House kicked off discussions over proposed amendments to the legislation.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)No one is getting evicted: There is “no truth” to the rumors that tenants will be kicked out of their homes under the proposed amendments to the Old Rent Law, MP Amr Darwish said during a phone-in on Al Youm (watch, runtime: 3:38) Gov’t to provide alternative housing: Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi highlighted the Housing Minister’s pledge to make alternative housing available for tenants impacted by the new law (watch, runtime: 1:21).ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- Head of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El Din virtually joined El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 8:32) to discuss AD Port’s plans to develop East Port Said Industrial Zone under a newly-signed agreement. The Emirati firm will pay the government 15% of its annual revenues from the project in return for the usufruct rights to the area, he said. We have the project details in the news well, above.

Monday, 5 May 2025

The Old Rent Law dominates the conversation on the airwaves
Legislative affairs once again took center stage on the airwaves last night, with the nation’s talking heads focusing on the latest regarding the Old Rent Law and the newly-ratified Labor Law.(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)ِAmending the Old Rent Law is a “bold move by the political leadership” to address a long-standing issue and restore balance to tenant-landlord relations, Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi said (watch, runtime: 4:21). The proposed amendments would help bring some 450k closed units back to the market, helping boost supply and ease rental prices, Ashraf El Sokary, head of the association of those affected by the old rent laws, told El Hadidi. Not everyone’s on board: Sherif El Ga’ar, head of the Old Rent Tenants Union, voiced his discontent with the proposed amendments, especially that which sets a minimum rent of EGP 500 per month for residential units in rural areas, explaining that many homes in rural areas don’t even follow the old rent system, he told El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 3:57).More flexibility could be coming: MP Amr Darwish told El Hadidi that his fellow MPs are weighing multiple ideas to ease the burden of the amendments on vulnerable tenants — including a rent-to-own system or tailored support programs for low-income renters (watch, runtime: 1:08).ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- The ratification of the revamped Labor Law marks a “turning point” for workplace relations and will deliver “positive outcomes,” Abdel Moneim El Gamal, head of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, told Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Asal (watch, runtime: 6:45).

Sunday, 4 May 2025

Criminal law reforms and rent law amendments were front and center on the talkshows
The nation’s talking heads turned their attention to the House of Representatives last night to cover the passing of the long-debated Criminal Procedures Law. Also on the legislative agenda were proposed amendments to the long-standing Old Rent Law — a long-time topic favorite on the airwaves.The new Criminal Procedures Law is “a major milestone in criminal justice,” MP Ihab Ramzy told Al Sa’aa Al Sadesa’s Azza Mostafa (watch, runtime: 7:47). “This law protects citizens from abuse of power and raises the ceiling on rights and freedoms,” Ramzy said. Over on Al Hayah Al Youm, MP Ihab El Tamawy — who chaired the subcommittee that drafted the law — gave host Mohamed Sherdy a rundown of its most significant provisions (watch, runtime: 3:50), describing it as “historic” during a speech at the House yesterday. We have the full rundown on the new law in the news well above.Parliament also received the long-awaited draft of the Old Rent Law from the government yesterday, Housing Committee and MP Tarek Shoukry told Sherif Amer on Yahduth Fi Masr (watch, runtime: 6:57). A joint committee will kick off discussions on Monday, with the participation of the housing, local development, and justice ministers. The legislation follows a Supreme Constitutional Court ruling last November that deemed the current fixed rental values for residential units unconstitutional, calling on lawmakers to amend the law.One proposal under discussion would set a minimum rent of EGP 500 per month for residential units in rural areas and EGP 1k in major cities. The increases would be introduced gradually over five years, Shoukry said, adding that these figures are still being reviewed. Lawmakers will also study other factors, including building age, unit size, and tenant income. Parliament aims to pass the bill within the next two months. DATA POINT- Some 3 mn residential units fall under the old rent regime — 81% of them located in Greater Cairo and Alexandria, and the remaining 19% elsewhere across the country.ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- With the first trial session underway, Ala Mas’ouleety’s Ahmed Moussa weighed in on the high-profile case of a minor who was allegedly molested by a senior official at a private language school in Damanhour back in February 2024. “Let justice take its course,” Moussa said (watch, runtime: 4:56), calling on viewers to “trust the Egyptian judiciary” and “preserve societal peace.”

Wednesday, 30 April 2025