Discussions Underway for Transferring Regional HQs of Danish Food Companies to Saudi Arabia

Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Discussions Underway for Transferring Regional HQs of Danish Food Companies to Saudi Arabia

Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat
Jorgen Christensen, CEO of the Danish Dairy Board, and Denmark's ambassador Ole Moesby at the launch of the Danish Organic Dairy program, at Panorama Mall, Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat

Discussions are underway to transfer the regional headquarters of some Danish international companies to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a senior Danish official revealed.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Denmark’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ole Moesby said that the Kingdom is one of the largest countries in the world that receives Danish exports in general.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia and Denmark share four partnerships that span key sectors like water, food, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

“Our products are witnessing a steady expansion and increase in the Saudi market,” Moesby told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The diplomat clarified that many international Danish companies, including water firms, intend to transfer their regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia.

According to Moesby, these companies will soon start their business in terms of manufacturing and exporting Danish products to the Kingdom. Also, they will start distribution work to export from the Kingdom’s land regionally and globally.

“We have a historic relationship with Saudi Arabia that extends for more than four decades... We are currently trying to keep pace with development and change in Saudi Arabia,” said Moesby, pointing out that Danish projects in the Kingdom will continue in the long-term.

The business delegation currently visiting Saudi Arabia will work to discuss new opportunities, revealed the diplomat.

In addition to exchanging expertise regarding the production and industry of organic food, the delegation will review ways of enhancing the participation of Danish companies in environmental and renewable energy sectors in the Saudi market.

According to Moesby, the market share of organic products in Denmark is the largest in the world and is growing annually.

In other news, the Danish embassy, with the cooperation of the Danish Dairy Board and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, launched a three-year program in Saudi Arabia to improve nutrition and public health in the Kingdom.



French Companies to Inject New Investments in Egyptian Market

Hossam Heiba, Chairman of the Investment Authority and Free Zones, signs a memorandum of understanding with the French Investment Promotion Agency in the presence of Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. (Egyptian Investment Authority)
Hossam Heiba, Chairman of the Investment Authority and Free Zones, signs a memorandum of understanding with the French Investment Promotion Agency in the presence of Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. (Egyptian Investment Authority)
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French Companies to Inject New Investments in Egyptian Market

Hossam Heiba, Chairman of the Investment Authority and Free Zones, signs a memorandum of understanding with the French Investment Promotion Agency in the presence of Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. (Egyptian Investment Authority)
Hossam Heiba, Chairman of the Investment Authority and Free Zones, signs a memorandum of understanding with the French Investment Promotion Agency in the presence of Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. (Egyptian Investment Authority)

Several French companies have committed to making new investments in the Egyptian market across various sectors, including transportation, food, and pharmaceuticals.

According to a statement by Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) on Saturday, companies such as Lesaffre (in yeast production), Alstom (transport), Sanofi (pharmaceuticals), and Decathlon (specialized retail in sportswear and equipment) have pledged to invest further in Egypt. These plans aim to leverage the significant improvements in the country’s investment infrastructure and legislative framework.

French investments in Egypt currently stand at approximately €7 billion (around $7.7 billion), distributed across 180 companies in various sectors. The companies’ commitment to expansion was made during a promotional visit to France by GAFI CEO Hossam Heiba, accompanied by Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan Al-Khatib.

The visit included participation in the Egyptian-French Business Forum held in Paris and Marseille, with the attendance of French Minister of Foreign Trade Sophie Primas and more than 350 French companies.

The Egyptian officials also held meetings with John Cockerill, a leader in hydrogen production equipment, representatives of bpi France, a French investment bank and the chairman of CMA CGM, a French logistics and maritime company and a key development partner of Egypt.

Heiba noted that Egypt has successfully attracted a significant number of global and French companies, benefiting from its strategic position as an investment and export hub for Africa. He emphasized that his country has maintained its position as the top African destination for investments in 2022 and 2023, with expectations of continuing this trend in the coming years. This is further supported by the record-breaking foreign direct investment, which reached $46.1 billion in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Additionally, Heiba signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French Investment Promotion Agency, which aims to sustain investment cooperation between Egypt and France, focusing on providing investor support, fostering partnerships between the two countries' business communities, and sharing data on target sectors and legislative developments. The agreement also covers the organization of investment promotion events and exploratory business tours.

The French side highlighted the substantial investments made by French companies in Egypt, particularly in telecommunications, healthcare, and cosmetics. Companies such as Valeo, Capgemini, Atos, and Orange Business Services operate in Egypt’s IT and communications sector, while Servier, AXA, AXA One Health, Sanofi, and Air Liquide have made significant contributions to the healthcare sector. L'Oréal is also a major player in the cosmetics industry.

This promotional visit is part of Egypt’s efforts aimed at expanding investment ties with Europe, following the 2024 Egypt-European Investment Conference held in Cairo in June, and the March 2023 announcement of an enhanced strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union.