Egypt’s Sovereign Wealth Fund CEO Resigns

A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
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Egypt’s Sovereign Wealth Fund CEO Resigns

A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)

The head of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), Ayman Soliman, has resigned, informed Egyptian sources revealed on Thursday.
They said Soliman resigned last June, around the time of the July ministerial shuffle, with his final working day set for the end of August.
A bill was already sent to the Egyptian House of Representatives to discuss transferring the Fund’s affiliation to the Prime Minister's Office.
In February 2019, Egypt formed the sovereign wealth fund to take control of some of the government's most promising assets in industries such as power and real estate, to bring in private investors to develop them.
Soliman was appointed as head of the fund in 2019 for an initial three-year term that was subsequently extended.
His resignation had been anticipated, with one government source saying the country's political leadership wanted to introduce fresh faces into key positions as part of a broader reshuffle, according to Reuters.
As of July, the Fund oversees approximately $12 billion in assets. It has attained the 48th position in the top 100 largest sovereign funds by total assets.
TSFE currently runs and operates five sub-funds: Infrastructure and Utilities Sub-Fund, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Sub-Fund, Tourism, Real Estate and Antiquities Sub-Fund, Financial Services and Fintech Sub-Fund, and Asset Management and Restructuring Sub-Fund.

Separately, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced on Thursday that Egypt’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, nearly a 0.2% decrease compared to Q1.
In May, government data showed that during Q1 of 2024, the labor force was estimated to consist of 31.397 million individuals, reflecting a 1.0% increase from the previous quarter's 31.101 million individuals. Of this total, 13.758 million individuals were part of the urban labor force, while 17.639 million individuals were part of the rural labor force.

 



Iraq Signs Contracts to Develop 13 Exploration Blocks, Oil and Gas Fields

The Iraqi Minister of Oil is seen at the signing ceremony of oil and gas development and exploration contracts. (Iraqi Ministry of Oil)
The Iraqi Minister of Oil is seen at the signing ceremony of oil and gas development and exploration contracts. (Iraqi Ministry of Oil)
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Iraq Signs Contracts to Develop 13 Exploration Blocks, Oil and Gas Fields

The Iraqi Minister of Oil is seen at the signing ceremony of oil and gas development and exploration contracts. (Iraqi Ministry of Oil)
The Iraqi Minister of Oil is seen at the signing ceremony of oil and gas development and exploration contracts. (Iraqi Ministry of Oil)

Iraq has signed initial deals for 13 oil and gas exploration blocks and fields, the country’s oil ministry said on Wednesday.

The agreements could increase output by 750,000 barrels of crude and 850 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of gas.

In a press statement, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani stressed the ministry’s keenness and serious endeavor to maximize oil production and achieve optimal investment of gas through the development of oil and gas fields and exploration patches.

He added: “These contracts will add large quantities of oil production estimated at 750,000 barrels per day, in addition to investing 850 cubic feet per day of gas.”

These quantities and production capacities aim to achieve flexibility in supplying power generation stations with gas fuel, in addition to supporting the energy sector in Iraq.

The contracts will be sent to the Ministerial Energy Council for approval and final signature ahead of proceeding with the direct implementation of development operations, said Undersecretary for Extraction Affairs Bassem Mohammad Khudair.