Representatives from the Egyptian government headed to London, after receiving an invite for the Middle East Congress, with the aim of promoting the March Economic Summit. The two-day congress will kick off on 25 February.
The Egyptian speakers at the conference will include Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman and Minister of Finance Hany Kadry Dimian. Chairman and founder of Qalaa Holding Ahmed Heikal, managing director of SODIC Ahmed Badrawi, CEO of EFG-Hermes Karim Awad, and senior partner at Abraaj Capital Ahmed Badreldin will also speak.
“The Telegraph [newspaper] has brought together a powerful line up of policymakers and business leaders for the inaugural Middle East Congress,” Commodities Editor of The Telegraph Andrew Critchlow said. “The congress will provide investors and British business with unique insights into emerging opportunities in major regional economies, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia.”
Tobias Ellwood, MP and Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be keynote speakers at the conference. The conference will also be attended by a number of Emirati and Saudi representatives.
The conference will tackle how the private sector can encourage the flow of foreign capital in the Middle East and examine the magnitude of infrastructure challenges. The conference will also study how political instability in the region is influencing economic diversity.
The Egyptian Stock Exchange’s Chairman Mohamed Omran was also among the Egyptian delegation. Omran will highlight the role of the stock market in supporting the Egyptian economy.
During the past month, several companies have shown their interest in listing in the capital market. The government is also seeking to study the possibilities of listing public companies that are supervised by the ministries of petroleum and supply.
British investments in Egypt surpass $5bn, according to Minister of International Cooperation Naglaa El-Ahwany.
A British delegation, comprised of 51 companies, visited Egypt in January. The delegation’s visit to Egypt shows Britain’s commitment, according to the British ambassador to Egypt John Casson during the UK ministerial delegation conference.
“This is the right delegation to visit Egypt at the right time,” the British Ambassador added.
The Egyptian government is seeking to attract many domestic and international investors through the March Economic Summit. Several projects in various sectors have been announced, with promises of more announcements during the conference.
