
Private sector's role in Egypt's economic growth took center stage at the Narrative Summit 2025
Dr. Ahmed Moharram: The private sector is the driving engine of Egypt's economic growth generating revenue and jobs and helping Egypt build global competitiveness and long-term economic resilience
Today Dr. Ahmed Moharram, Founder and Managing Director of Anchorage Investments, was a featured speaker at the Narrative PR Summit, which is taking place on April 7–9, 2025, at the magnificent Somabay on Egypt's Red Sea coast. With the captivating theme "Egypt Reset," the prestigious event kicked off today, drawing prominent global leaders, insightful experts, and influential figures from around the world. The ninth edition of the summit is proudly held under the auspices of several key ministries, including the Ministries of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Investment, and Youth and Sports, focusing on promoting investment, tourism, and sports as key pillars of Egypt's economic transformation.
As a panelist in the session titled "Empowering the Private Sector is Vital to Egypt's Growth and Prosperity," Dr. Moharram highlighted the enablers and challenges of launching one of Egypt's largest private-sector industrial projects: the USD 2.2 billion Anchor Benitoite Petrochemical Complex in Ain Sokhna.
"The private sector is a vital driving engine of economic growth. When we invest in large-scale, export-oriented industries, we not only generate revenue and jobs but also help Egypt grab global market shares, build competitiveness and long-term economic resilience," explained Moharram.
The Anchor Benitoite project, developed by Anchorage Investments, is a state-of-the-art petrochemical complex designed to produce 1.75 million tons per annum of high-value products along its different phases, including propylene, polypropylene, and acrylic acid derivatives. Located within the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), the facility leverages Egypt's strategic access to global shipping lanes, investment incentives, and regulatory facilitation.
In his remarks, Dr. Moharram emphasized key enablers of private sector success, including Egypt's strategic geographical location amidst global maritime routes, proactive government support, and access to international proven technology and international partners. He also addressed challenges such as some infrastructure and utility gaps requiring additional captive capital investments to bridge these gaps, policy stability considerations and capital and operational costs' uncertainties.
"To truly empower the private sector, we need to simplify the regulatory environment, foster public-private partnerships particularly with regards to decarbonization infrastructure, and - with regards to greenfield capital-intensive manufacturing projects - work together on building confidence and improving investors' sentiment towards advocating investment decisions being taken into Egypt's greenfield projects not only brownfield turnarounds with quick targeted exits," Dr. Moharram noted. "These are not just business imperatives they are strategic necessities for Egypt's economic prosperity", he added.
He also stressed on the importance of the long-term vision: "Empowering the private sector is not about short-term gains; it is about creating a sustainable business-friendly ecosystem that generates value across generations. Egypt's future prosperity hinges on our ability to build this ecosystem that helps private enterprises and private-sector entrepreneurship thrive and innovate."
The Narrative PR Summit was initiated in 2016 with the goal of enhancing Egypt's global reputation. By uniting influential figures and leaders from the realms of investment, business, tourism, and art, this initiative facilitates the exchange of inspiring experiences and cultivates a sense of national identity. Their collective efforts propel Egypt onto the global stage as a premier tourist destination, while concurrently fostering partnerships with diverse stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, to drive investment in the country's burgeoning sectors.
The Summit's 2025 edition also introduced new initiatives such as the Storytellers Awards, designed to celebrate young digital creators who are shaping modern narratives about Egypt.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Renaissance Africa Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid $15B Investment Drive in Nigeria
Tony Attah, CEO of Renaissance Africa Energy – a consortium of independent oil and gas companies -, has been confirmed to speak at this year's African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. His participation comes at a pivotal moment as Renaissance Africa Energy spearheads one of Nigeria's most ambitious upstream investment campaigns following the company's landmark acquisition of energy major Shell's Nigerian subsidiary Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria's (SPDC). Attah's participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 is set to highlight Renaissance Africa Energy's transformative role in reshaping Nigeria's upstream sector. With a $15 billion investment plan targeting 32 oil and gas projects over the next five years, Renaissance Africa Energy is rapidly positioning itself as a key driver of indigenous oil and gas development in the Niger Delta region. The company's immediate operational success – exceeding its oil production target by 40% in its first month – underscores its commitment to growth, efficiency and stakeholder collaboration. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Attah is expected to share insight into this investment strategy. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. Renaissance Africa Energy, a consortium comprising ND Western Ltd. Aradel Holdings Plc, FIRST E&P, Waltersmith Group and Petrolin, completed the $1.3 billion acquisition of SPDC's assets in December 2024. The move marked a turning point for local participation in Nigeria's oil industry and reflected the Nigerian government's commitment to empowering indigenous operators through the implementation of the country's Petroleum Industry Act, which improves the sector's fiscal framework, governance and regulatory procedures. The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. – which retains a 55% stake in the SPDC joint venture with Renaissance Africa Energy – has publicly acknowledged the company's swift progress. The joint venture is expected to play a pivotal role in helping Nigeria meet its national production goals – targeting over two million barrels per day (bpd) by 2025 and three million bpd by 2030. With deep expertise across upstream, midstream and downstream operations, these partners bring a proven track record of performance, community engagement and innovation. Meanwhile, a combined asset base of $3 billion and production rate of 100,000 bpd positions Renaissance Africa Energy to deliver high-impact energy solutions across Nigeria and the continent. Under Attah's leadership, Renaissance Africa Energy operates under four strategic areas of focus: boosting oil production through drilling and rig operations; expanding pipeline and fabrication capacity; growing domestic gas supply; and enhancing gas exports through 22 dedicated projects. Under these pillars, one of the company's core objectives is to double gas output from 150 million to 300 million standard cubic feet per day, which will see support from critical infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline. 'Tony Attah's leadership at Renaissance Africa Energy is emblematic of the next phase of African energy: bold, locally-led and investment driven. Within weeks of assuming operations, the company exceeded production targets by 40%. This is the kind of leadership and execution Africa's energy future needs,' stated Tomás Gerbasio, VP Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.


Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Spark Capital expands global reach with new DIFC office
Spark Capital Private Wealth Management (Spark Capital PWM) has launched its operations in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the premier financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, through its subsidiary, Spark Global PWM Private Limited. This move enhances Spark Capital's ability to connect global investors with diverse markets, offering tailored wealth management solutions and reinforcing DIFC's position as an unmatched ecosystem for financial innovation, he company said in a statement. The DIFC's exceptional environment, with its robust regulatory framework and access to a vast network of financial institutions, makes it an ideal base for Spark Capital PWM. The centre hosts 420 wealth and asset management firms, including 75 pure-play hedge funds, 48 of which manage assets exceeding Rs 8,300 crore each. This vibrant ecosystem enables firms to tap into regional opportunities, serving as a gateway to financial institutions and multinational companies across the MEASA region. DIFC's strategic location, bridging Asia, Europe, and the Americas, further amplifies its appeal for wealth managers like Spark Capital PWM, fostering seamless access to global markets. Spark Capital PWM's expansion into DIFC underscores its rapid growth. The firm's assets under management and advisement have surged nearly tenfold, from Rs30 billion in April 2023 to Rs300 billion by May 2025. Its team has grown from 60 to over 400 professionals, including 130+ experienced relationship managers, with a presence across 12 Indian cities. The DIFC office, staffed by seasoned wealth management experts, will leverage Spark Capital's research capabilities and innovative strategies to deliver bespoke solutions, catering to the needs of international clients seeking portfolio diversification and wealth preservation. Arpita Vinay, senior managing director & co-CEO of Spark Capital PWM, said, 'Our DIFC office marks a pivotal step in our global strategy. Dubai's strategic location and DIFC's world-class infrastructure provide the perfect platform to connect investors with diverse opportunities, enhancing our ability to deliver value to clients worldwide.' Neeraj Ojha, senior executive officer of Spark Global PWM Private Limited, added, 'DIFC's exceptional ecosystem, with its top-tier regulatory standards and extensive financial network, empowers us to offer sophisticated wealth solutions backed by Spark Capital's expertise.'


Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Ashmore receives authorisation for a regulated business in Qatar
Follows strategic partnership with Qatar Investment Authority ('QIA') under the Active Asset Management Initiative, aligning with the country's National Vision 2030 and ambitions to continue economic growth trajectory Ashmore Group plc ('Ashmore' or 'the Group'), the specialist Emerging Markets asset manager that manages US$46.2 billion, announces that Ashmore Qatar has been authorised by the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority ('QFCRA'). Ashmore has a long history of investing in Qatar and has conducted business with the country for more than two decades. The Ashmore Qatar office, which will operate under the QFCRA's regulatory framework, will participate in Ashmore's investment committees, including the provision of advice and input on the management of the Ashmore Qatar Equity Fund ('AQEF'), which was launched in January 2024 with the QIA as an anchor investor. Since inception to end April 2025, AQEF has delivered a cumulative gross USD return of 18.5% and has outperformed its benchmark index by 345 basis points. Additionally, the office will support the development of relationships with local investors, providing access to Ashmore's full range of Emerging Markets investment strategies across equities, fixed income and alternatives asset classes. Ashmore currently manages approximately US$10 billion on behalf of clients based in the Middle East, which is invested in a diversified range of listed equity, fixed income and thematic private equity strategies. The establishment of an office in Qatar is line with Ashmore's strategy to develop a network of local businesses in attractive emerging economies. The new business complements Ashmore's other offices in Colombia, India, Indonesia, Peru, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which together manage US$7.5 billion of assets, representing 16% of the Group's total AuM. Mark Coombs, Chief Executive Officer, Ashmore Group plc, said: 'We are delighted to open our new office in Qatar, as a natural evolution of our long relationship. The country provides exciting growth opportunities as its domestic capital markets broaden and deepen, and its National Vision 2030 raises Qatar's profile as an important investment destination for international investors. We look forward to our Qatar operations contributing to the growth and diversification benefits to the Group provided by Ashmore's other local emerging markets businesses.' Commenting on this milestone, Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC, stated: 'We are pleased to welcome Ashmore Group to the Qatar Financial Centre. As a globally recognised leader in emerging markets investment, Ashmore's presence in Qatar reflects the growing appeal of our financial ecosystem and the strength of our regulatory framework. At the QFC, we are committed to providing a supportive platform for leading global institutions, enabling them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the diversification and development of Qatar's financial services sector, in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.' Media contact details for Ashmore Group: Cardew Group Ashmore@ +44 207 766 1212 Henry Crane +44 7918 207157 Luke Bramwell +44 7467 992924 Media contact details for QFC: QFC Corporate Communications Rasha Kamaleddine +974 5504 9647