Egypt, Qatar Agree to Boost Relations, Increase Investments

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during his meeting with the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association (Egyptian Cabinet)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during his meeting with the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association (Egyptian Cabinet)
TT

Egypt, Qatar Agree to Boost Relations, Increase Investments

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during his meeting with the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association (Egyptian Cabinet)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during his meeting with the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association (Egyptian Cabinet)

Egypt and Qatar agreed to boost relations and increase investments to establish trade alliances and partnerships.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that the exchange rate issue would soon be solved after the black market rate approached the official rate.

Madbouly called on the business sector in Qatar to invest in his country, stressing his determination and the governmental team accompanying him to remove all obstacles that prevent exciting projects by adopting several reforms and incentives.

On Tuesday, Madbouly met representatives of the Qatar Chamber and the Qatari Businessmen Association.

Chairperson of Qatar Chamber (QC) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said that the meeting aimed to discuss aspects and opportunities for cooperation between the Qatari private sector and its Egyptian counterpart in the economic, trade, and investment fields.

Bin Jassim hoped that the meeting would promote mutual investments to reach higher rates of trade exchange, which witnessed remarkable development in recent years.

Qatari businessmen are monitoring the remarkable developments of the Egyptian economy, and the big boom in infrastructure and development projects which provide many investment opportunities said the Chairperson.

He indicated that it incentivized Qatari business owners to direct their investments to the Egyptian market, especially with feasible opportunities in various sectors such as agriculture, food security, industry, real estate, hospitality, and others.

Bin Jassim expressed confidence that the coming period would witness increased rapprochement between Qatari and Egyptian businessmen, preparing a solid ground for establishing alliances and partnerships.

Madbouly stated that Egypt is prepared to approve laws on more tax incentives, including exempting investors from 55 percent of the taxes they pay in their investment field. He underlined that Egypt focuses on promoting the private sector's economic participation.

He explained that some international companies working in Egypt requested the introduction of specific incentives, which the parliament approved.

Several Qatari investors expressed their desire to speed up the establishment of the Egyptian-Qatari joint investment fund with significant capital, according to Madbouly.

Over the past nine years, the Egyptian state faced significant political challenges, including two revolutions and a war on terrorism, said the PM, adding that the focus at that stage revolved around developing and strengthening the infrastructure.

Egypt was able to improve and develop its infrastructure in various fields and sectors, establish a national network of roads, and provide essential services, which aims to achieve the goal of promoting investments.

Madbouly also stressed that the Egyptian state is determined to provide many investment incentives and focused on incentives in agriculture, industry, tourism, and advanced industries and technologies.

He noted that Egypt is a large market, adding that the state is keen to reduce the deficit in its hard currency resources, which can only be achieved by encouraging the private sector to find local industries.

During Madbouly's visit to Qatar, three memorandums of understanding were signed with several Qatari companies to support and enhance aspects of the partnership with the private sector in providing healthcare services.



Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty
TT

Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

Muslim World League Affirms Support for Saudi Measures to Preserve Sovereignty

The Muslim World League (MWL) has affirmed its full support for the supplementary statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding recent escalatory actions by the Southern Transitional Council in the Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates.

The league also expressed its support for the statement from the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen concerning the unauthorized movement of ships carrying weapons and heavy vehicles from the Port of Fujairah to the Port of Mukalla, SPA reported.

These shipments were reportedly transported without the necessary official permits from the coalition’s Joint Forces Command. The MWL emphasized its unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its national security.

In an official statement released by the General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Organization of Muslim Scholars Chairman Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa commended the decisive and wise content of the Saudi statement.

Speaking on behalf of the league’s global assemblies and councils, Al-Issa noted that these measures are vital to ensuring peace, security, and the unity of the Yemeni people under their internationally recognized leadership.

Al-Issa highlighted that the priority remains preserving stability in Yemen and the broader region. He noted that outstanding issues, including the Southern cause, must be resolved through dialogue within established legal and legitimate frameworks.

Furthermore, he warned that supporting illegitimate practices only deepens internal divisions and serves those who do not have Yemen’s best interests at heart. He cautioned that any further steps deviating from the legitimate path would only ignite sedition, the heavy cost of which would be borne by the Yemeni people.

Concluding the statement, Al-Issa called upon all Yemeni parties to prioritize wisdom and the national interest. He urged them to unite under their legitimate leadership to preserve the country's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, paving the way for a secure and prosperous future for Yemen.


President of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Nullifies Joint Defense Agreement with UAE

Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
TT

President of Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Nullifies Joint Defense Agreement with UAE

Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)
Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Yemeni Presidency)

President of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi issued a presidential decree on Tuesday nullifying the joint defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates, based on the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the decision on the transfer of power, the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the powers granted to it under the constitution, according to the Yemen News Agency (Saba).

Article Two of the decree mandates that all UAE forces and personnel withdraw from Yemeni territory within 24 hours, according to SPA.

Article Three instructs the Homeland Shield forces to assume control of all military camps in Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates.


Yemeni Government Commends Saudi Historic Stance and Its Leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
TT

Yemeni Government Commends Saudi Historic Stance and Its Leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Yemeni government commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's historic and steadfast stances, highlighting its crucial role in ensuring Yemen's security and stability.

The government acknowledged Saudi Arabia's leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy and its ongoing commitment to protecting civilians, de-escalating tensions, and preventing the eastern governorates from being drawn into conflicts that serve hostile agendas, SPA reported.

In an official statement, the government called on the Southern Transitional Council to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahara. It urged the council to hand over all locations and camps to the Homeland Shield Forces and local authorities in these governorates, to adhere to the terms of reference of the transitional phase, and to cease all military or escalatory actions that threaten local security and undermine de-escalation efforts.

The statement, which was reported by the Yemen News Agency (Saba), expressed the government's full support for the decisions made by President of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, who is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

This includes declaring a state of emergency across Yemen and taking necessary sovereign measures to protect local security, preserve the unity and sovereignty of the state, and maintain its legal status in light of the dangerous developments in Yemen's eastern governorates.

The government stated: "The declaration of a state of emergency is grounded in the constitution and the references of the transitional phase, based on the recommendations of the National Defense Council.

It is a legitimate constitutional measure necessitated by our national duty to confront armed rebellion, protect civil peace, and prevent a descent into chaos that could undermine state institutions."