Google Pumped GBP11.2 Billion in Egyptian Economy in 2021

Google has contributed to advancing economic activity in Egypt through its various products in helping individuals, local businesses, content creators and software developers. (Reuters)
Google has contributed to advancing economic activity in Egypt through its various products in helping individuals, local businesses, content creators and software developers. (Reuters)
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Google Pumped GBP11.2 Billion in Egyptian Economy in 2021

Google has contributed to advancing economic activity in Egypt through its various products in helping individuals, local businesses, content creators and software developers. (Reuters)
Google has contributed to advancing economic activity in Egypt through its various products in helping individuals, local businesses, content creators and software developers. (Reuters)

Google directed an estimated 11.2 billion pounds ($61 million) in economic activity in Egypt in 2021, according to the Google Impact Report.

The report is conducted by Public First research agency that looks at how Google products (Search, Play, Maps,YouTube and Google Ads) help people, local businesses, content creators and developers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Around the world, Google releases Impact Reports, which are based on public polling, economic modeling, and third-party data.

Commenting on the report, Hisham ElNazer, Google’s Country Manager in Egypt, said: “We’re happy to see how people, businesses, content creators and developers in Egypt used our products like Search, YouTube, Maps and Android in their own way to grow and innovate in the face of adversity and change over the last few years.”

“We’re deeply committed to investing and doing more in Egypt this year through programs and local partnerships, whether to help individuals gain necessary skills to grow, or support businesses with tools and mentorship to scale successfully online.”

Meanwhile, a new IBM study revealed that sustainability is rising higher on corporate agendas across the world as CEOs recognize sustainability as a business imperative and growth driver, with Egypt being no different.

Yet, CEOs in Egypt predict technology infrastructure, cashflows and regulations as concerns that may hinder their progress for the next couple of years.

IBM’s annual CEO study, “Own your impact: Practical pathways to transformational sustainability”, which surveyed 60 CEOs in Egypt, found that the majority of CEOs surveyed (72 percent) believe their company’s environmental sustainability strategy is a least partially completed, with 10 percent stating that the strategy is in fact fully completed for their organizations.

However, nearly half (47 percent) of respondents stated technology infrastructure among their greatest challenges, with lack of data insights and unclear Return on Investment (ROI) as major potential hurdles.

Seventy-seven percent of surveyed CEOs stated that they have already started implementing their sustainability strategy across several functions; however, only 11 percent have fully implemented their strategies across their entire organization.

The majority of respondents (67 percent) agreed that business leaders are directly responsible for their organizations business impact on the environment.

“The world economy is facing major challenges this year, foremost of which are supply chain disruptions, inflation, and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic” says Marwa Abbas, General Manager, IBM Egypt.

“But with every challenge comes an opportunity to do things better, more sustainability and to employ cognitive technologies and innovations in order to stay ahead of the curve, and that’s where we’re directing all our efforts.”



Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
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Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo

The US dollar charged ahead on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields, putting the yen, sterling and euro under pressure near multi-month lows amid the shifting threat of tariffs.

The focus for markets in 2025 has been on US President-elect Donald Trump's agenda as he steps back into the White House on Jan. 20, with analysts expecting his policies to both bolster growth and add to price pressures, according to Reuters.

CNN on Wednesday reported that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries. On Monday, the Washington Post said Trump was looking at more nuanced tariffs, which he later denied.

Concerns that policies introduced by the Trump administration could reignite inflation has led bond yields higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note hitting 4.73% on Wednesday, its highest since April 25. It was at 4.6709% on Thursday.

"Trump's shifting narrative on tariffs has undoubtedly had an effect on USD. It seems this capriciousness is something markets will have to adapt to over the coming four years," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets.

The bond market selloff has left the dollar standing tall and casting a shadow on the currency market.

Among the most affected was the pound, which was headed for its biggest three-day drop in nearly two years.

Sterling slid to $1.2239 on Thursday, its weakest since November 2023, even as British government bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Ordinarily, higher gilt yields would support the pound, but not in this case.

The sell-off in UK government bond markets resumed on Thursday, with 10-year and 30-year gilt yields jumping again in early trading, as confidence in Britain's fiscal outlook deteriorates.

"Such a simultaneous sell-off in currency and bonds is rather unusual for a G10 country," said Michael Pfister, FX analyst at Commerzbank.

"It seems to be the culmination of a development that began several months ago. The new Labour government's approval ratings are at record lows just a few months after the election, and business and consumer sentiment is severely depressed."

Sterling was last down about 0.69% at $1.2282.

The euro also eased, albeit less than the pound, to $1.0302, lurking close to the two-year low it hit last week as investors remain worried the single currency may fall to the key $1 mark this year due to tariff uncertainties.

The yen hovered near the key 160 per dollar mark that led to Tokyo intervening in the market last July, after it touched a near six-month low of 158.55 on Wednesday.

Though it strengthened a bit on the day and was last at 158.15 per dollar. That all left the dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, up 0.15% and at 109.18, just shy of the two-year high it touched last week.

Also in the mix were the Federal Reserve minutes of its December meeting, released on Wednesday, which showed the central bank flagged new inflation concerns and officials saw a rising risk the incoming administration's plans may slow economic growth and raise unemployment.

With US markets closed on Thursday, the spotlight will be on Friday's payrolls report as investors parse through data to gauge when the Fed will next cut rates.