Egypt, EIB Boost Cooperation to Enhance Private Sector Engagement

Egypt is intensifying its moves to boost the activities of the private sector in the country (Reuters)
Egypt is intensifying its moves to boost the activities of the private sector in the country (Reuters)
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Egypt, EIB Boost Cooperation to Enhance Private Sector Engagement

Egypt is intensifying its moves to boost the activities of the private sector in the country (Reuters)
Egypt is intensifying its moves to boost the activities of the private sector in the country (Reuters)

Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said that the fruitful cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) is reinforcing joint development efforts and therefore the private sector's growth.

EIB Vice President Gelsomina Vigliotti will be heading on a four-day visit to Egypt to strengthen cooperation with Egyptian public and private partners and discuss future EIB priority investments in many sectors.

This will be Vigliotti’s first high-level visit to Egypt as EIB VP for the Mashreq region since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last 41 years, the EIB has provided more than €14 billion for energy, water, agriculture, telecom, transport, and private sector investment in Egypt.

Last year, the EIB provided more than €1bn for business, telecom, and transport investment in Egypt.

“The EIB is a key partner for Egypt, and I welcome VP Vigliotti on her first official visit to our country,” said Al-Mashat.

“The EIB and the EU Bank is committed to supporting transformational private and public investment across Egypt, improving access to finance by entrepreneurs and addressing the challenges of a changing climate.

Egypt is the leading country of operation for the EIB outside of Europe. My financial and technical colleagues and I look forward to discussing how to strengthen economic resilience to existing and new challenges and enhancing the impact of future EIB engagement in Egypt,” said Vigliotti.

Mashat also met virtually with Sonja Gibbs, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance for the Institute of International Finance, in the attendance of Wolfgang Engel, General Manager & Chief Representative - Institute of International Finance.

Mashat discussed suggestions for joint cooperation with the Institute, under the framework of Egypt presiding the COP27.



Maersk Sees Sustained Global Demand, but at Slower Pace

FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign for A.P. Moller-Maersk outside their offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign for A.P. Moller-Maersk outside their offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
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Maersk Sees Sustained Global Demand, but at Slower Pace

FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign for A.P. Moller-Maersk outside their offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign for A.P. Moller-Maersk outside their offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo

Shipping company Maersk on Wednesday said the global demand for container transport was expected to continue to grow in the next few quarters albeit at a slower pace as substantial market risks persisted.

The Danish company also confirmed preliminary second-quarter earnings released last week when it raised its outlook for the third time since May, citing higher freight rates due to the Red Sea crisis and solid container shipping demand.

Maersk, viewed as a barometer of world trade, on Wednesday said global container demand was estimated to have grown 5%-7% in the second quarter, boosted by strong Chinese exports which grew 10% compared to a year ago, among other factors, Reuters reported.

"Global container demand growth is expected to remain positive in coming quarters, but likely at a slower pace," the company said in its earnings report.

Maersk last week also cautioned that prospects for the fourth quarter were uncertain.

"A healthy, albeit cooling labor market, and wage gains are expected to continue to support US consumers. Declining consumer confidence and savings, however, are clouds at the horizon," Maersk said on Wednesday.
For the full year, it expects global container market volumes to increase by 4-6%.

Shipping disruptions caused by Houthi militants' attacks on vessels in the Red Sea were expected to last at least until the end of the year, Maersk has said.

The attacks have drawn US and British retaliatory strikes and disrupted global trade but Maersk and rivals have benefited from longer sailing times and soaring freight rates as ships are rerouted around Africa.