Egypt's CIB Appoints Chairman Ezz al-Arab as CEO

A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt's CIB Appoints Chairman Ezz al-Arab as CEO

A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)

Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt's biggest private bank, has appointed long-serving chairman and former CEO Hisham Ezz al-Arab as its chief executive, it said in a statement on Monday.

Board member Neveen Sabbour will replace him as chairman, the statement said. Ezz al-Arab replaces current CEO Hussein Abaza and will occupy the position for three years, according to Reuters.

The new appointments are part of a process "to lead the bank's multifaceted business transformation and continue its program to support recognized potential future leaders," the statement said.

Ezz al-Arab, chairman and managing director since 2002, was ordered to step down in October 2020 by the central bank, which cited "compliance concerns".

The central bank governor at the time, Tarek Amer, resigned in August 2022 during a currency crisis, a year before his term ended. Ezz al-Arab was asked to return as chairman in the December that followed.



Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Deal to Be Implemented within 2 Months, Says Egypt PM

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Deal to Be Implemented within 2 Months, Says Egypt PM

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly speaks at the meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly announced on Monday that the Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Agreement has been finalized and will be activated within two months. He also stated that the remaining challenges facing Saudi investors in Egypt will be resolved by the end of this year.

Speaking during a meeting with the Saudi private sector at the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh, Madbouly emphasized the Egyptian government’s commitment to support Saudi investments.

He said a special unit within Egypt's Ministry of Investment will be dedicated to overseeing Saudi investments, and the government has already resolved 90 issues affecting Saudi investors, leaving only 14 outstanding.

Ministers and officials from the public and private sectors attended the meeting.

Madbouly highlighted Egypt's recent reforms and incentives in various sectors, including development, real estate, industry, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. He noted that Egypt has successfully managed challenges related to financial and monetary policies, particularly the exchange rate of the Egyptian pound.

Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi underscored the intense efforts to improve the business environment between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, adding that the activation of the Saudi-Egyptian Investment Protection Agreement will further strengthen economic ties.

Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih praised the close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, describing their relationship as a model for Arab cooperation that promotes regional economic growth.

He noted that trade between the two countries exceeded SAR 124 billion during 2022 and 2023 and that 5,767 licenses have been granted to Egyptian investors in the Kingdom.

The meeting also highlighted new developments in Saudi-Egyptian economic relations, focusing on opportunities for integration, cooperation to access African markets, and comparative advantages in various investment sectors.

Earlier, Madbouly met with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef for talks on boosting cooperation and integration in the industrial and mining sectors.

They also discussed prospects for their development through the exchange of expertise and knowledge.

They explored the development of appropriate solutions to address challenges in order to maximize the benefits of both sectors.

In addition, they discussed strategies to support and incentivize private sector investment in strategic areas within the industrial and mining sectors, such as food industries, which would contribute to achieving food security in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.