When you look at this and other newspapers, you certainly know that these words go through a prestigious industry. An elegant newspaper with an aware content may not necessarily be successful. There is a circle that must be completed: an integrated industry. This industry is made up of objectivity, modern design and printing, wide circulation and successful marketing. Without these pillars, the press is incomplete. Perhaps this was the principle that led to and consolidated the historic experiences of our press: newspapers such as Al-Waqae'a Al-Masreya [The Egyptian Events] - which saw the light during Egypt's Renaissance - Al-Ahram, el-Mokattam and el-Jihad embodied one of the most glorious intellectual and cultural phases in Egypt's history. More recently, it is worth mentioning Mustafa and Ali Amin's adventure with Akhbar al-Yom newspaper and the new-born independent press. As the Egyptian press is going through a period of transition, we must objectively admit that Al-Ahram has been at the vanguard of keeping this industry alive. This is a prestigious institution, regardless of who leads it. In spite of the restrictions of routine and governmental bureaucracy, over the past decades Al-Ahram has been the real soul of this vital industry. Therefore, it was inevitable for partisan and independent newspapers to see the light and grow in the arms of this institution, which prints and circulates more than 80% of all press publications in Egypt. If it were not for Al-Ahram, most newspapers would not be able to afford the costs of printing and distributing their copies, as print shops cost dozens of millions of LE and it takes hundreds of vans to bring these copies to outlets. More than four years on after its foundation, Al-Masry Al-Youm must recognize all this. Perhaps this newspaper, which is now setting up its new print shop in 6th October City, came at the right moment. Al-Ahram carried out this experiment with us as it does with the other newspapers, in spite of the tough competition. It has never told us that print shops or vans could no longer stand all these newspapers. Instead, it has been taking care of those who want this industry to develop and thrive. Even when Al-Masry Al-Youm's circulation reached 200,000 copies a day, Al-Ahram did not say "I have enough". Instead, it has welcomed us and others with open arms, as print shops work 24 hours a day and distribution vans travel all across Egypt, from Alexandria to Aswan. Perhaps our dialogue with Al-Ahram Chairman Marsa Attallah shows we are convinced that this prestigious institution must remain at the top of the press industry. Al-Masry Al-Youm, though, wanted to look at the press industry with Al-Ahram's eyes. Industry does not make progress without aware investments. Therefore, we have taken a well-studied step and decided to set up one of the most modern print shops in Egypt at a cost of more than LE 50 million. Al-Masry Al-Youm itself has contributed with LE 10 million from the newspaper's profits. The shareholders have paid LE 10 million from the capital of this institution, while the Arab African International Bank granted a LE 31-million loan against the shareholders themselves being the collateral and with an annual 12.5% interest. As modern print shops need printing experts from abroad to transfer experience to local workers, the Chamber of Printing Industries (Industry Modernization Center) has contributed with a €210,000 loan. This money has been invested to carry out technical studies for the print shop and to pay for the specialists in building and running print shops. This collaboration with the Chamber stems from its role in supporting the printing industry in Egypt. This is indeed one of the loans the Industry Modernization Center has granted to more than 450 Egyptian foundations, institutions and companies, both governmental and private. The machines of this new print shop are expected to be run by a printing company affiliated to Al-Masry Al-Youm starting from mid-2009. The company, Al-Ahram and the other press institutions intend to contribute to improving the press industry and giving more newspapers the chance to see the light. There can be no full freedom of opinion and expression unless this industry is fully developed after it suffered from inaction for many decades. Our dream can fully come true only when each Egyptian newspaper has its own print shop, so that this industry may become completely independent like words, news and opinions.
