Business Environment Strongly Improves in Egypt Despite Pandemic

A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
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Business Environment Strongly Improves in Egypt Despite Pandemic

A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)

The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Egypt PMI rose from 49.4 in August to 50.4 in September, signaling an improvement during the latest survey period.

“The result marked the first above-50.0 reading since July 2019. The latest div pointed to only a marginal improvement in business conditions, suggesting the Egyptian non-oil economy has further scope to recover to the level of performance seen prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” the report said.

"The latest Egypt PMI data offered more optimism for businesses, as the September PMI indicated an improvement in economic conditions for the first time in 14 months. While only marginally in positive territory at 50.4, the PMI was also strongly above its trend level of 48.1,” Economist at IHS Markit David Owen said.

Meanwhile, CEO of the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and Managing Director of Sumitomo Egypt, Ahmed Magdy met and discussed the latter’s increase of its investments in Egypt by EGP1 billion, through the establishment of a new project for the company.

Abdel Wahab confirmed that the Authority provides all facilities and incentives to the company to encourage it to enter the Egyptian market, and support all companies that boost Egypt's position as a strategic hub for global supply chains, serve the national economy and provide more job opportunities.

He stressed that the Japanese company’s plans to expand in Egypt are consistent with successive international institutions’ testimonies about the Egyptian economy, and its ability to quickly recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, by following the economic reform program adopted by the government.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef is leading a high-level delegation from the Kingdom’s industry and mining ecosystem on an official visit to Indonesia from April 15 to 17 to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
The visit aims to attract high-quality investments to the Kingdom and explore mutual investment opportunities in the mining sector and various industrial fields, particularly food, pharmaceuticals, and auto parts, aligning with the objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and position the Kingdom as a leading global industrial power, SPA reported.
The delegation will participate in high-level strategic meetings with senior government officials from various Indonesian ministries and will also meet with leaders of major Indonesian companies in mining, food, pharmaceutical, and other strategic industrial sectors.

Key meetings in Jakarta will include sessions with the minister of energy and mineral resources and the minister of industry, in addition to discussions with private sector leaders such as the CEO of PT Vale and the chairman of BioPharma.
Indonesia is considered a strategic partner for the Kingdom in Southeast Asia. By the end of 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached SAR22.5 billion, with Saudi exports amounting to SAR15 billion and Indonesian imports totaling over SAR7.5 billion.

These figures reflect the strength of economic relations and the mutual interest in expanding areas of cooperation and capitalizing on available opportunities in key sectors. Globally, Indonesia’s exports reached approximately SAR814 billion in 2024, marking a 1.3% annual increase.
Alkhorayef’s visit sets the stage for a new phase in bilateral relations, with both sides focused on building a long-term strategic partnership that supports their local economies and enhances economic integration between the two nations.