GAFI gets new chief AFTER three years of heading the General Authority for Investments (GAFI), Ziad Bahaaeddin is to be replaced by 40-year-old Assem Ragab starting next month. Ragab, a financier and banker with experience in big multinationals like Procter and Gamble, Arthur Andersen and Barclays Bank joined GAFI only three months ago as an assistant to Bahaaeddin. The change came in response to Bahaaeddin's call for new blood to be injected into GAFI. Mahmoud Mohieddin, minister of investment, said that Bahaaeddin's tenure witnessed a drastic change in the role played by GAFI after its restructuring that resulted in simplifying the investment procedures and revising investment laws. Bahaaeddin will move to head up GAFI's Trustees Council, a body responsible for preparing economic periodicals on the performance of the Egyptian economy in addition to making recommendations on how to improve the investment climate. Foodstuffs galore MORE than 75 Egyptian companies will participate in ANUGA, the International Trade Fair held biennially, which will take place in Cologne from 13- 17 October 2007, according to Tareq Tawfiq, chairman of the Food Commodity Council and vice- chairman of the Chamber of Food Industry (CFI). The Egyptian companies will showcase foodstuffs products. Peter Goepfrich, chairman of German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce said that these will be comprised mainly of milk, sweets, fruits (frozen, dried), rice and its products, canned vegetables, dried dates, baby food, herbs, nuts, tea, pasta, canned juices and spices. Egypt has participated in ANUGA 12 times. The organisers say that more than 400 Egyptian companies are expected to visit the fair this year, the largest contingent ever. In 2005, some 150,000 visitors from 156 countries visited the fair that boasted 6,300 exhibits from 108 countries. Goepfrich added that the Egyptian food processing industry has experienced rapid development through the use of new technologies. The food processing industry accounts for LE31 billion. This represents 50 per cent of the total output of Egypt's industrial sector, with a strong annual growth rate of 20 per cent. There are currently 4,700 registered food processing enterprises in Egypt, employing roughly 250,000 skilled workers. Moving on experience THE GERMAN Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GACIC), together with the Industrial Training Council (ITC) and the German International Marketing of Vocational Education (iMOVE), recently organised a seminar on potential areas of cooperation, Eman youssef reports. The seminar, which took place at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, was addressed by head of Planning and Consulting at iMOVE Markus Milwa and ITC Executive Director Ahmed Taha. iMOVE is an information and guidance centre established by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. According to GACIC CEO Peter Goepfrich, iMOVE's main objective is supplying information on what Germany has to offer in the field of continuing vocational training. This information is available to decision-makers in the private and public sectors, as well as individuals around the world. ITC was looking for the assistance of iMOVE to enhance and localise the German experience in the field of training through matchmaking between Egyptian and German training providers, noted to Taha. Goepfrich announced that iMOVE and ITC will select Egyptian training providers who will benefit from successful training modules in Germany. A visit from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is expected at the end of August, while a delegation of German training providers will be in town for matchmaking events in September. Better connectivity INTEL CORPORATION is introducing World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology in Egypt through partnership with National Telecommunications Institute (NTI). In a bid to continue providing greater access to technology and the online world through WiMAX, Intel and NTI established a wireless training lab at NTI's facility in the Smart Village. Intel will be providing NTI with the equipment, software, technical support, information and set-up needed to ensure that the lab runs smoothly, which is part of Intel's desire to boost local expertise in computing and communication technologies to serve the needs of the regional markets, according to Khaled El-Amrawi, Intel General Manager Egypt, Levant and North Africa. "As an early member of the WiMAX Forum, Intel has been pushing for greater use of WiMAX technology to reach large communities," stated El-Amrawi. He added that there is a substantial need for Internet access in areas where cable connectivity is not present, and WiMAX is an ideal way of bypassing this shortage. Focussed on people in the world's developing communities, Intel integrates and extends its efforts to advance progress in three areas: accessibility, connectivity and education. According to El-Amrawi, Intel's goal was not only to extend affordable PC access but to develop PCs tailored to local needs, drive critical connectivity, cultivate sustainable local capabilities, and provide the technology education needed to make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
