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    Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

    Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

    Egypt secures $66 mln from EU, AFD to expand wheat storage

    Egypt secures $66 mln from EU, AFD to expand wheat storage

    Agreements signed to establish 4 food factories in Jordan

    Agreements signed to establish 4 food factories in Jordan

    Morocco set to launch potash project: report

    Morocco set to launch potash project: report

    Food Africa and pacprocess MEA to launch in December with an even larger area

    Food Africa and pacprocess MEA to launch in December with an even larger area

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

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      Qatar’s non-oil sector achieved 9.9% growth in Q4 2022: Prime Minister

      Qatar’s non-oil sector achieved 9.9% growth in Q4 2022: Prime Minister

      International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

      International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

      Egypt aims to enhance contribution of IT sector to GDP: Talaat

      Egypt aims to enhance contribution of IT sector to GDP: Talaat

      Saudi airports witness 42% rise in passengers in first 4 months of 2023

      Saudi airports witness 42% rise in passengers in first 4 months of 2023

      Oman’s annual inflation rate eases to 1.1% in April, lowest since March 2021

      Oman’s annual inflation rate eases to 1.1% in April, lowest since March 2021

      Egypt starts implementation of silicon production project in New Alamein

      Egypt starts implementation of silicon production project in New Alamein

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      Oman gears up for its first smart city

      Oman gears up for its first smart city

      Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

      Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

      Value of Saudi construction contracts jump 35% to $51.3bn: report

      Value of Saudi construction contracts jump 35% to $51.3bn: report

      Qatar to implement new strategies for real estate development

      Qatar to implement new strategies for real estate development

      Real Estate Development Fund deposits $248m in Sakani accounts to boost Saudi housing goals

      Real Estate Development Fund deposits $248m in Sakani accounts to boost Saudi housing goals

      Sharjah records 21,486 real estate transactions worth Dh5.9 billion in Q1 2023

      Sharjah records 21,486 real estate transactions worth Dh5.9 billion in Q1 2023

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        Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

        Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

        Egypt invests $64mln in electricity network development in South Sinai since July 2014

        Egypt invests $64mln in electricity network development in South Sinai since July 2014

        First accredited low-carbon ammonia shipment dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan

        First accredited low-carbon ammonia shipment dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan

        Oman’s refinery products output jumps by 44%

        Oman’s refinery products output jumps by 44%

        Iraq agrees to 30% stake in TotalEnergies $27bln energy project

        Iraq agrees to 30% stake in TotalEnergies $27bln energy project

        Oman signs $20bn hydrogen deals

        Oman signs $20bn hydrogen deals

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          Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

          Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

          Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

          Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

          Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

          Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

          Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

          Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

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        • Agrofood
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          • Agriculture
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          Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

          Egypt’s agriculture exports rise 17.2 percent in 5 months

          Egypt secures $66 mln from EU, AFD to expand wheat storage

          Egypt secures $66 mln from EU, AFD to expand wheat storage

          Agreements signed to establish 4 food factories in Jordan

          Agreements signed to establish 4 food factories in Jordan

          Morocco set to launch potash project: report

          Morocco set to launch potash project: report

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA to launch in December with an even larger area

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA to launch in December with an even larger area

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Trending Tags

          • Business & Economy
            • All
            • Business
            • Economy
            • Finance
            • Industry
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Transport & Logistics
            Qatar’s non-oil sector achieved 9.9% growth in Q4 2022: Prime Minister

            Qatar’s non-oil sector achieved 9.9% growth in Q4 2022: Prime Minister

            International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

            International investors keen on entering Saudi market, says minister

            Egypt aims to enhance contribution of IT sector to GDP: Talaat

            Egypt aims to enhance contribution of IT sector to GDP: Talaat

            Saudi airports witness 42% rise in passengers in first 4 months of 2023

            Saudi airports witness 42% rise in passengers in first 4 months of 2023

            Oman’s annual inflation rate eases to 1.1% in April, lowest since March 2021

            Oman’s annual inflation rate eases to 1.1% in April, lowest since March 2021

            Egypt starts implementation of silicon production project in New Alamein

            Egypt starts implementation of silicon production project in New Alamein

            Trending Tags

            • CES 2017
            • Election Results
            • eSports
          • Construction
            • All
            • Infrastructure
            • Real Estate
            Oman gears up for its first smart city

            Oman gears up for its first smart city

            Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

            Saudi real estate ‘booming’ on big office space demand

            Value of Saudi construction contracts jump 35% to $51.3bn: report

            Value of Saudi construction contracts jump 35% to $51.3bn: report

            Qatar to implement new strategies for real estate development

            Qatar to implement new strategies for real estate development

            Real Estate Development Fund deposits $248m in Sakani accounts to boost Saudi housing goals

            Real Estate Development Fund deposits $248m in Sakani accounts to boost Saudi housing goals

            Sharjah records 21,486 real estate transactions worth Dh5.9 billion in Q1 2023

            Sharjah records 21,486 real estate transactions worth Dh5.9 billion in Q1 2023

            Trending Tags

            • Energy
              • All
              • Oil & Gas
              • Power & Electricity
              • Renewable Energy
              Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

              Clean energy technology manufacturing market to reach $790bln by 2030: IEA

              Egypt invests $64mln in electricity network development in South Sinai since July 2014

              Egypt invests $64mln in electricity network development in South Sinai since July 2014

              First accredited low-carbon ammonia shipment dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan

              First accredited low-carbon ammonia shipment dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan

              Oman’s refinery products output jumps by 44%

              Oman’s refinery products output jumps by 44%

              Iraq agrees to 30% stake in TotalEnergies $27bln energy project

              Iraq agrees to 30% stake in TotalEnergies $27bln energy project

              Oman signs $20bn hydrogen deals

              Oman signs $20bn hydrogen deals

              Trending Tags

              • Hospitality
                Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

                Qatar: Over 700 hotel keys added in Q1

                Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

                Jordan’s tourism income surges 88% as visitors flock to the country

                Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

                Dubai’s hotel stock hits 150,000 keys as tourist influx from India, Russia, Oman buoys hospitality sector

                Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

                Leisure sector in Qatar stronger after World Cup 2022

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

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              Banks see opportunities in Egypt despite uncertainty

              Oxford Business Group

              June 22, 2014
              in Finance
              0
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              Egypt’s banking sector, which was impacted by the instability of the past few years, is beginning to see increased momentum, with the formal launch of an Emirati-owned bank and modest upgrades in credit ratings for a pair of key players.  
               
              Fundamentals
              Dubai’s biggest bank, Emirates NBD, formally launched its brand and new headquarters in Egypt in April, 10 months after completing the purchase of the Egyptian assets of French lender BNP Paribas for $500m.

              The investment by Emirates NBD reflects the bank’s desire to diversify its activities to reduce its dependence on the crowded UAE market as well as to take advantage of the long-term potential that it sees in the Egyptian banking sector.

              The acquisition of BNP Paribas’ assets came shortly after Qatar National Bank snapped up National Société Générale Bank (NSGB) from French banking group Société Générale with the deal finalized in early-2013.

              The moves came at a time when the broader economy was grappling with slow growth and policy uncertainty, but were not surprising given the country’s sound fundamentals. A large and growing population and reasonably diversified economy, combined with low levels of financial intermediation and a banking penetration rate estimated at just 10%, suggesting significant room for growth.
               
              Ratings revised
              However, even as the sector’s long-term opportunities remain attractive, there has been a noticeable improvement in the banking industry’s short-term outlook as well, in large part thanks to a more stable sovereign balance sheet.

              In January, ratings agency Fitch opted to change Egypt’s sovereign outlook from negative to stable. This was the first upgrade since the 2011 revolution, and was based in part on the $15bn in aid committed by Egypt’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) neighbors, as well as a slowdown in political uncertainty.

              The aid from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE served to bolster Egypt’s foreign currency reserves, which had fallen dangerously after the revolution. Another factor was GDP growth, which Fitch expects to increase to 3.2% in Egypt’s 2013/14 fiscal year (ending June) and 3.8% in 2014/15, from 2.1% in 2012/13.

              That same month, Fitch revised its outlook for CIB and National Bank of Egypt (NBE), the country’s largest bank by assets, which is fully state-owned, from negative to stable. The agency also affirmed its long-term foreign currency issuer default ratings (IDR) at B-.

              The soundness of government finances is important due to the banking sector’s exposure to government securities, which ran at 5.7 times shareholder equity in September 2013, according to ratings agency Moody’s. As foreign investors have shied away from Egyptian debt, much has been piled onto Egyptian banks.

              Fitch’s move came after Standard & Poor’s upgraded its long-term credit rating on NBE, CIB and Banque Misr to B- from CCC+ in November. Again, the change reflected the strengthening of the Egyptian sovereign.

              The upgrades are welcome news for the banking industry and seem to indicate a shift in the financial sector’s short-term outlook, although there are still challenges. Aid from the GCC has helped stave off immediate fiscal disaster in Egypt, but there are structural issues that the government – under newly-elected President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi – will need to tackle.

              In addition to the need for higher rates of growth and job creation, the public sector will also need to rein in spending, particularly in terms of the unwieldy subsidy regime. Banks’ vulnerability to another worsening in public finances is a considerable risk, given the budget deficit, which even the government expects to reach 14-14.5% of GDP in the 2014/15 financial year.

              The concerns led Moody’s in February to keep Egypt’s broader banking sector on a negative outlook due to exposure to the government. Even after the May presidential elections, Fitch reported it would not change its rating as it expects the government will continue to “be cautious in addressing the large fiscal deficit”.

              As is the case with many things in Egypt, 2014 seems to have heralded a gradual improvement in the short- and medium-term outlooks for a number of sectors, but the country is not yet out of the woods.
              Oxford Business Group
              22 June

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