logo
Emirati investments in Egypt's tourism sector represent model for PPP: Minister

Emirati investments in Egypt's tourism sector represent model for PPP: Minister

Zawya29-04-2025

DUBAI: Sherif Fathi, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, stated that Emirati investments in Egypt's tourism sector serve as a successful paradigm for public-private partnerships between the two nations.
Highlighting the significance of recent investments, particularly the Ras El Hekma project, he emphasised their crucial addition to existing ventures and asserted that these collaborations underscore the substantial confidence in the Egyptian tourism market.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai, the Minister said that Egypt's tourism sector demonstrated robust performance in 2024, achieving an approximate growth rate of 6% with approximately 15.8 million tourist arrivals, despite regional challenges encountered throughout the previous year. He further noted the positive trajectory of the Egyptian tourism sector in light of regional circumstances, with Egypt targeting an elevated growth rate for 2025.
He also indicated that the first quarter of the current year witnessed a 25% growth compared to the corresponding period last year, attributing this increase to the continuation of the positive momentum observed in the final quarter of 2024.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EBRD supports Egypt with first private-to-private electricity contracts
EBRD supports Egypt with first private-to-private electricity contracts

Web Release

timean hour ago

  • Web Release

EBRD supports Egypt with first private-to-private electricity contracts

Energy market reform is taking a major step forward in Egypt as the government approves the first bilateral power purchase agreements between private generators and consumers. As part of a pilot of the private-to-private (P2P) rules, developed with technical support from the EBRD to the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (Egypt ERA) and approved last year, four renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 400 MW have been approved to contract directly with end-consumers of electricity. The four approved projects are: KarmSolar, which will develop a 100 MW solar plant to supply electricity to Suez Steel. AMEA Power, which is building a solar facility of the same size to serve BEFAR Group and the Suez Canal Container Terminal. TAQA PV, which will install 100 MW of hybrid capacity (solar and wind) to power operations at Ezz Steel. Enara, developing a hybrid plant to deliver 100 MW to the El Alamein Silicone Products Company and Helwan Fertilizers. The P2P rules set out the conditions under which generators can use the power grid to sell electricity directly to consumers, a major departure from the existing single-buyer model and a significant step forward in Egypt's efforts to liberalise its electricity market – a goal set out in the 2015 Electricity Law. This approach introduces competition into the electricity sector, expands consumer choice and promotes private investments in renewable energy. It also introduces a path for Egyptian businesses, especially those that are energy-intensive and focused on the export market, to sign agreements directly with renewable energy producers that are increasingly required to prove their low carbon product credentials, for example green hydrogen destined for the European market. Furthermore, given the electricity generation under these contracts will be entirely privately financed, the P2P scheme represents an important route for Egypt to scale up electricity production without the need for government contracts. Mark Davis, the EBRD's managing director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, said: 'This milestone shows how the right regulatory framework can unlock private investment and drive the energy transition. By enabling companies to procure green electricity directly from producers, Egypt is opening new opportunities for industry and enhancing its competitiveness. We are proud to have supported EgyptERA in designing this pioneering scheme and will continue working closely as projects move towards implementation.' Dr Mohamed Mousa Omran, the chairman of EgyptERA, said: 'This pilot marks an important step towards a more competitive electricity market in Egypt. By enabling direct agreements between producers and consumers, we are creating space for the private sector to play a greater role in meeting the growing demand for clean energy in Egypt. This is essential for accelerating the deployment of renewables at scale and achieving our long-term energy goals.' The EBRD's technical support is generously funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), a key partner for the Bank in many of its ongoing policy engagements that aim to decarbonise the energy sectors of its countries of operation. This work is being delivered under the EBRD's Renewable Energy Programme, which is currently supporting 16 countries in their development of market-based mechanisms to mobilise private investments. To date, activities under this programme have delivered over 8,500 MW of renewable energy capacity being awarded in 8 countries.

UAE Ministry of Finance hosts awareness session for Emirati students in China on career opportunities in international financial organisations
UAE Ministry of Finance hosts awareness session for Emirati students in China on career opportunities in international financial organisations

Al Etihad

time2 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

UAE Ministry of Finance hosts awareness session for Emirati students in China on career opportunities in international financial organisations

10 June 2025 16:26 SHANGHAI (ALETIHAD)The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the UAE Consulate General in Shanghai and the New Development Bank, organised an awareness session for Emirati students studying in China as part of the 'UAE Global Cadres' at the New Development Bank's headquarters in Shanghai, the session aimed to explore recruitment and training mechanisms in multilateral organisations, as well as pathways to build a career in the international financial included His Excellency Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi, Consul General of the UAE in Shanghai; Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi, Director of International Financial Relations and Organisations Department at MoF and Board Member of the New Development Bank; and Qiangwu Zhou, Vice-President and CAO of the New Development Bank, as well as other senior bank event is part of the UAE's commitment to expanding the presence of its national talent in the global financial arena and increasing awareness among Emirati students about career opportunities within international financial institutions. Stimulate National Talent Acting Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations at the Ministry of Finance, Ali Abdullah Sharafi, said, 'The Ministry is committed to creating an interactive environment that brings together young Emirati talent with influential international organisations to stimulate national talent and enable them to explore career opportunities in the global financial sector.''Such meetings offer a direct window into the realities of working in multilateral organisations and give students the opportunity to learn from real-life experiences and discover promising career paths.'Sharafi added, 'We believe that building a strong Emirati cadre on the international stage begins with investing in knowledge and communication, an approach we are committed to advancing through initiatives like these.' Bridges of Communication Meanwhile, Ambassador Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi emphasised that the session is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Finance and the UAE's diplomatic missions, with both sharing the same goal: empowering the nation's youth to succeed on the global added, 'The UAE Global Cadres initiative is an extension of the country's diplomatic approach to building bridges of communication between Emirati students and influential global organisations.' 'We hope this session inspires students to explore new horizons in the international financial sector and, in doing so, strengthen their contributions to both the national and global economies,' Al Naqbi session began with a welcome speech by Qiangwu Zhou, who greeted the students and commended the ongoing collaboration between the bank and the said, 'We are delighted to host this panel discussion, which highlighted the strong interest and awareness among Emirati students in international business. Investing in young talent has been and will continue to be a top priority for us.'He added, 'Events such as this provide invaluable opportunities to introduce the next generation to fulfilling careers within multilateral organisations, while fostering diversity and expertise in the Bank's future workforce.' PresentationsThe session explored the importance of the UAE Global Cadres Initiative in empowering Emiratis to pursue career and training opportunities within leading international financial institutions. The initiative supports this goal by offering introductory programmes, specialised knowledge content, and fostering strategic partnerships with entities such as the New Development Bank (NDB).The discussions also touched on the Ministry of Finance's efforts to create an enabling environment for Emiratis seeking to enter multilateral institutions. These efforts include support with application procedures, secondment opportunities, and tailored training from the New Development Bank delivered presentations outlining recruitment mechanisms and professional development pathways available within the organisation. They detailed key programmes targeting young talent, application processes, admission criteria, and the skillsets and specialisations most in for their part, actively engaged during the session, posing questions on application requirements, areas of specialisation, and the day-to-day working environment at the bank. This gathering is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to deepen strategic partnerships with international financial institutions and expand career opportunities for UAE nationals, driving the country's vision of building a globally competitive and influential national workforce.

China-Europe freight train runs top 110,000 on Tuesday, transporting goods worth more than $450 billion
China-Europe freight train runs top 110,000 on Tuesday, transporting goods worth more than $450 billion

Gulf Today

time3 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

China-Europe freight train runs top 110,000 on Tuesday, transporting goods worth more than $450 billion

On Tuesday morning, No. 75052 China-Europe freight train departed from Jiaozhou Station in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. According to China Railway Group Co, the departure marks a significant milestone, as the cumulative number of China-Europe freight trains has now exceeded 110,000, with the accumulative value of goods transported surpassing $450 billion. According to a report by Global Times, this achievement underscores the increasing significance of the freight train service in promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe. It also illustrates the strength and reliability of Chinese supply chains, as noted by analysts. The freight rail web has expanded extensively in the past years. The network now covers 128 Chinese cities and reaches 229 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian nations. Upgrades at five major Chinese border ports and the new addition of Tongjiang North Railway Port in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have increased the rail network's daily handling capacity to 184 trips. Digitalization and streamlined processes have revolutionised the efficiency of the freight operations. Digital innovations like the 95306 "digital port" and streamlined customs service help cut the clearance time to only minutes. Fourteen China-Europe freight train gathering centers have been established across different provinces in China, accelerating the formation of an efficient transportation system. Meanwhile, China Railway Group Co's overseas subsidiaries in countries such as Kazakhstan, Germany, and Russia, through their deepened cooperation with local railway administrations, as well as logistics, and port and freight forwarding enterprises, have ensured balanced outbound and inbound traffic with a 100-percent container utilization rate. The range of goods transported by the China-Europe freight trains has also expanded remarkably, now encompassing over 50,000 items across 53 categories. High-value products, including automobiles, machinery, and electronics, have become the mainstay of exports, making up more than 60 percent of the total in 2024. China's "new three" export items—new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products—are increasingly being shipped via the trains. WAM

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store