Incentives for Saudis SAUDI investments in Egypt are expected to reach $50 billion during the next five years "so long as good incentives are available," said Bandar Al-Amri, chairman of the Egyptian Saudi Joint Business Council, adding that the number of Saudi companies working in Egypt is estimated at 6,280. Al-Amri's statements came after last week's meetings of the Joint Egyptian Saudi Committee held in Egypt. Saudi Minister of Commerce and Trade Majid Al-Qasabi, accompanied by a delegation of 35 Saudi businessmen, attended the 17th session of the committee. During his meeting with Al-Qasabi, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli stressed that Egypt was working to combat any obstacles investors may face in the country. Madboli offered to hold a monthly meeting with Saudi investors "to meet their requirements". Al-Qasabi pointed out that several problems faced by investors had been identified and that a meeting will be held with the head of Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones to solve them.
Relocating after crash MINISTER of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir said on Monday that buildings and workshops that impede the Tebbin-Abbasiya railway line will be demolished after a cargo train crashed into two minibuses carrying workers in Helwan, leaving four people dead and 24 others injured. Al-Wazir noted that houses near the railway line were illegally constructed and urged their owners to find safer residences. He said owners will be compensated. Following the accident, the Egyptian National Railway Authority said the minibuses stopped at a residential area through which the railroad passes, and that the locomotive driver was not able to stop the train in time. The train driver turned himself in at Tebbin police station and was tested negative for drugs. The prosecution is investigating the crash.
Ninety Egyptians released HEAD of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Tripoli Ambassador Mohamed Tharwat announced on Monday the release of 90 Egyptians who had been detained in Tripoli since Friday over charges of illegal immigration. The Egyptians spent three days at Tripoli immigration detention centre. The Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli, which resumed its work in May after a seven-year closure, settled the case in coordination with the relevant Libyan authorities, Tharwat noted in a press statement. He thanked the Libyan interior minister, officials, and local authorities for their efforts, which he said, reflected the close relationship between the two countries. The Egyptian Embassy and consulate in Libya were shut down in January 2014 after the kidnapping of four Egyptian staff of the embassy by gunmen and an attack on the consulate.
Attracting Malaysians MALAYSIAN Minister of Foreign Affairs Hishameddin Hussein met on Monday with Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Yehia Zaki to discuss investment opportunities in the economic zone. Hussein's visit is his first to Egypt since he took office in March. The meeting discussed Malaysian investments in the Suez Canal industrial zones and affiliated ports. Hussein expressed his country's willingness to pump investments in Egypt, "as it is the gateway to Africa". Zaki presented the strategy on which the zone was established, as well as laws and decrees issued recently to create a favourable business climate for investors.
Legalising tuk-tuks THE CABINET has announced details of a government initiative to license tuk-tuks and replace them with minivans. The number of tuk-tuks in Egypt is estimated at 2.5 million, only 10 per cent of which have an official licence, said Nader Saad, the cabinet spokesperson. According to Saad, the licensing fees for tuk-tuks under the new initiative will be less than the current fees to motivate owners. Moreover, licensing tuk-tuks will help provide health insurance and pensions for their owners. Saad explained that the Ministry of Interior will set a deadline for licensing after which tuk-tuks without a licence will be confiscated. The initiative also allows for a tuk-tuk to replace a minivan after evaluating its condition and deducting its price from the value of the minivan, Saad said. Local authorities will specify the neighbourhoods in which tuk-tuks will be allowed to operate, Saad said, adding that licensing terms will include specific conditions, including the age of the driver.
Airport harasser jailed A MISDEMEANOUR court sentenced a Cairo International Airport employee to three years in prison with hard labour and fined him LE20,000 on charges of sexual harassment and violating the private life of a traveller by taking inappropriate photos of her. Last week, the prosecution referred the employee to an urgent criminal trial, saying the defendant took photographs on his phone of the female passenger for sexual gratification. Similar photographs of other passengers were also found on the man's mobile phone, the prosecution statement said. The defendant was reportedly fired from his job at the airport. Writer and blogger Basma Bishay had shared a video on Instagram revealing how she and her friends had caught a man at the airport taking photographs of her. The video was viewed more than two million times. Bishay shared another video after the man was held for investigation, stating "We have the feeling of incredible success."
*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
