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Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sawiris Foundation signs an MoU with AFD, Essam and May Allam Foundation, and the Louis Dreyfus Foundation
Cairo, Egypt: To advance innovative, climate-smart agricultural solutions that support smallholder farmers in Egypt—particularly in the governorates of Sohag and Minya—Sawiris Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Essam and May Allam Foundation, and the Louis Dreyfus Foundation to launch a joint pilot project aimed at achieving this important goal. With this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), AFD, Essam and May Allam Foundation, Louis Dreyfus Foundation and The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development formalized their collaboration to tackle the significant challenges faced by smallholder farmers in rural Egypt, particularly focusing on climate vulnerability and limited credit and market access. The proposed solution is a comprehensive package of bundled agricultural services, centered around tailored credit products designed to incentivize the adoption of climate-smart inputs and practices. This approach aims to enhance farmers' resilience to climate change, leading to improved crop quality and yields. Marie-Hélène Loison, Deputy Director General of AFD, emphasized: 'AFD will provide a technical support from its Impact Evaluation Department and is proud to join forces with two major Egyptian foundations and Louis Dreyfus for its longstanding experience of projects promoting sustainable micro-farming and agricultural practices. Naguib Sawiris, Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sawiris Foundation, said: "this partnership marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to sustainable development and empowering Egyptian communities. By joining forces with AFD, Essam and May Allam Foundation, and Louis Dreyfus Foundation, we are able to expand our reach and deliver innovative, climate-smart agricultural solutions directly to small farmers in Sohag and Minya'. Laila Hosny, Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation, said: ' this initiative is a testament to our belief in collective action to drive lasting change, providing tangible pathways to increased income and economic stability for those who need it most". Robert Serpollet, General Manager of Louis Dreyfus Foundation, said: 'Together, we will work towards the shared goal of uplifting agricultural communities. This joint effort and collaboration are essential for shaping more resilient communities and a more sustainable food system'. Hassan E. Allam, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Essam and May Allam Foundation, said: 'This partnership reaffirms our commitment to advancing evidence-based solutions, a vision championed by my late father and sister which we are keen to uphold. We are proud to work alongside our distinguished partners in delivering climate-smart agricultural solutions tailored to the needs of Egypt's smallholder farmers'. Amr E. Allam, Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Essam and May Allam Foundation, said: 'This project aims to improve productivity, raise incomes, and build climate resilience in Sohag and Minya—underscoring our mission to help uplift communities and break the cycle of poverty'. It is worth noting that the Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant step toward empowering smallholder farmers in Egypt through climate-smart, sustainable agriculture. By combining the strengths of all four partners, the initiative offers a scalable model to boost productivity, build climate resilience, and improve livelihoods in rural communities. Press contacts: For AFD: Zied Ounissi ounissiz@ / Kabil Zerouali zeroualik@ For the Sawiris Foundation: Mohamed Lotfy / mlotfy@ For LDF: Ekaterina Naymark / For Essam and May Allam Foundation: Hala Samy / About Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group has established itself as a key player in Franco-Egyptian cooperation, working since 2006 to support the country's economic, social and environmental transitions. In response to these challenges, AFD is stepping up its efforts and in 2022 revised its strategic intervention framework to support the country in the transitions underway and respond to Egypt's specific climate change adaptation needs, gender equality or training and employment. With a portfolio of €2.3 billion (November 2023), AFD is deploying a diversified range of instruments to support the Egyptian government in its development objectives, mainly in the sustainable infrastructure sectors (energy, transport, water and sanitation), climate finance, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, and social sectors, including social protection. Today, 55 projects are underway, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reflecting the priorities shared by Egypt and France. They are intended to support the integration of Egyptian financial, commercial and productive systems at the regional level; to support the development of green, inclusive and efficient infrastructure; and promote equitable and sustainable local territorial development. Learn more about the AFD Group's activity in Egypt About Sawiris Foundation: The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) is one of the first donor foundations in Egypt. Established in 2001 by the Sawiris family, SFSD philanthropically promotes and supports innovative solutions that target comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. Over the last 24 years, SFSD has addressed the most pressing issues facing marginalized Egyptians, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education, by funding the delivery of programs aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, in partnership with the governmental and private sectors as well as civil society. By creating thousands of job opportunities and providing quality education and access to basic services, we have impacted the lives of approximately 1 million Egyptians. Our funded programs cover 24 Egyptian governorates, focusing on the most remote villages. With increasing global and national challenges, Sawiris Foundation developed its strategic directions while finding the most cost-effective and impactful ways to support Egypt's marginalized families and those trying to further positive social change in Egypt. By following the philosophy of effective altruism and evidence-based practices, we have launched our 2023-2028 strategy to maximize our impact in reducing multidimensional poverty and empowering agents of change in Egypt. Learn more about Sawiris Foundation for Social Development About LDF: The Louis Dreyfus Foundation aims to promote projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food security and self-sufficiency, particularly through education and direct support to small-scale farmers, with a specific focus on developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Learn more about the Louis Dreyfus Foundation About Essam and May Allam Foundation: Founded in 2025 by the Essam Hassan Allam family to honor the legacy of a remarkable father and daughter, the Essam and May Allam Foundation (EMAF) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in Egypt through evidence-based, high-impact initiatives in education and agriculture. By focusing on programs grounded in rigorous research and proven effectiveness, the Foundation ensures its efforts are scalable, sustainable, and positioned to deliver meaningful results. EMAF operates through two strategic pillars. The Essam Allam Agriculture Accelerator addresses key challenges in agricultural climate resilience, productivity, market access for smallholder farmers, and food security. The May Allam Knowledge Incubator works to improve early childhood and primary education, promote and preserve the Arabic language, conserve Middle Eastern arts and culture, and expand access to vocational training and scholarships. Through these pillars, EMAF serves as a catalyst for transformative change—bridging the gap between research and practice to drive inclusive development that empowers individuals, uplifts communities, and fosters long-term resilience across Egypt. Learn more about The Essam and May Allam Foundation
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's minister inaugurates Golden Avenue garment factory, accelerates industrial development in Minya
Egypt - Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, toured key industrial sites in Minya, highlighting Egypt's ongoing push to localize manufacturing and expand infrastructure in Upper Egypt. Al-Wazir began by visiting the Giza Company for Upper Egypt Development, a textile and ready-made garments factory that serves as a flagship example of successful local investment. Spanning 46,000 square meters and employing 2,500 workers, the factory has achieved a 50% local content rate, which Al-Wazir hailed as a major milestone in Egypt's industrial development strategy. He then officially inaugurated the Golden Avenue factory, a $3.5m Egyptian-Vietnamese joint venture specializing in the production of padded jackets for export to Europe and the United States. The facility currently employs 350 workers, with plans to grow its workforce to 1,500 by the end of the year. Following the inaugurations, Al-Wazir inspected the Matahra Industrial Zone, which spans 8 million square meters and hosts 621 projects across multiple sectors. He also reviewed proposed utility works at a 306-feddan expansion site designated for new industrial development. As part of broader investment facilitation measures, the minister announced that 16 vacant plots in the Matahra zone will be made available via the Egypt Industrial Digital Platform on June 1, 2025. Additionally, a small industries complex—comprising 68 units for food, engineering, and textile production—recently concluded a leasing round that ran from 1 to 22 May 2025. Al-Wazir stressed the urgency of accelerating development in Matahra, citing its strategic location near major transportation routes and export hubs, including Safaga Port (250 km), Ain Sokhna Port (300 km), Minya Railway Station (40 km), and Assiut Airport (130 km). Plans are underway to add 1.2 million square meters to the zone, creating Upper Egypt's first textile-focused industrial area. To ensure accountability, Al-Wazir ordered the formation of a joint inspection committee to verify that allocated industrial plots are being developed on schedule. Lands left idle or misused will be reclaimed and reallocated to serious investors to curb speculation and accelerate productive use. The minister also inspected progress on the Western Upper Egypt Desert Road, a transformative infrastructure project stretching 1,226 kilometers. He visited the Dairut–Asyut segment, which is 72 kilometers long and now 75% complete. This section will ultimately feature six lanes—three for main traffic and three for service—across a 46-meter-wide corridor. Progress along the route is advancing steadily. The Cairo–Minya segment, covering 230 kilometers, was inaugurated in December 2021. The 60-kilometer Minya–Qusiya section opened in March 2023. The 57-kilometer Qusiya–Asyut section is now 75% complete. Work is progressing on the 113-kilometer stretch between Luxor and Sibaiya, while the 215-kilometer Aswan–Toshka section has reached 23% completion. The Sibaiya–Edfu segment (25 kilometers) and the Edfu–Aswan section (87.5 kilometers) are scheduled for completion by March 2025. The remaining segments, including the 336 kilometers from Asyut to Luxor and 103 kilometers from Toshka to Arqin, are currently in the planning phase. So far, 402.5 kilometers of the road have been completed, 385 kilometers are under development, and 439 kilometers are planned for future construction. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt attracts $8bln in Chinese investment from 2,800 companies
Arab Finance: The number of Chinese companies operating in Egypt has reached approximately 2,800, with total investment costs exceeding $8 billion, Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), stated. Heiba's remarks came during his meeting with Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong Province, along with a number of officials from Chinese companies seeking to invest in the Egyptian market. The government is devoting special attention to Chinese investments, as they aim to transfer Chinese technology to Egypt and provide labor-intensive employment, Heiba noted. He revealed that the GAFI plans to establish a complete Chinese textile city in Minya Governorate, adding that three Chinese companies were granted golden licenses to operate in Egypt. The two sides discussed the investment cooperation agenda for the second half (H2) of 2025, which includes the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade's participation in the World Economic Forum, which will be held in Tianjin from June 24th to 26th. Furthermore, the Egyptian-Chinese Investment Forum will be held in Cairo next July, with the participation of Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce and International Trade Wang Shouwen. On his part, Feng Xingya, Chairman of Guangzhou Automobile Group (CAG), unveiled the company's plans to invest $300 million for establishing an automotive factory in Egypt to meet local market needs and export. Xu Ziyang, CEO of ZTE, rolled out plans to expand the company's business in the Egyptian market and localize Chinese technology in the country. This comes amid high demand from Egyptian telecom firms for developing the telecommunications infrastructure. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GAFI's CEO highlights Egypt's green investments at Energy Law Group Global Forum
Arab Finance: Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), has participated in the Energy Law Group Global Forum, according to a statement. Organized by Zaki Hashem & Partners Law Firm, the event showcased Egypt's experience in stimulating green investments. Energy Law Group includes 34 legal consulting firms operating in more than 50 countries. Heiba stated that Egypt seeks to boost reliance on renewable energy sources by issuing a law providing incentives for green hydrogen production projects and establishing the National Council for Green Hydrogen. Egypt also granted golden licenses to several green hydrogen and ammonia projects to accelerate the construction processes to deliver the required services and final products. Heiba pointed out that the state's success in the renewable energy sector promotes investment in other sectors, as new investments cannot be received without securing their own energy needs. Therefore, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade prioritizes localizing renewable energy-related industries in line with its "Investment for Export" plan. The government seeks to meet domestic manufacturing energy demands and export the surplus to industrial partners in the Middle East and Europe, according to Heiba. GAFI's CEO elaborated on how the availability of energy contributed to attracting investments to key development areas, such as Minya, Aswan, and the Red Sea. He added that the authority managed to attract Japanese investments to manufacture wiring harnesses for automotives in Fayoum. The authority also seeks to attract textile industries in Minya, making the two governorates among the fastest-growing regions in terms of the value of new investments in labor-intensive activities. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
