The British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) on Wednesday has kicked off its door-knock mission to the UK by promoting investment opportunities in Egypt's education sector in cooperation with Coventry University. The mission – visiting the UK from November 27 to 29 – encompasses Egyptian Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of International Cooperation and Investment Sahar Nasr, and Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir. It also includes Yehia Zaki, chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone); former deputy prime minister Ziad Bahaa El-Din, as well as CEOs of major Egyptian companies. Coventry University hosted a conference for BEBA to promote opportunities for investment in Egypt's education sector. Professor John Latham CBE, Coventry University's Vice-Chancellor, opened the conference, which was attended by high-powered delegates from Egypt as well as the UK, including many from the higher education sector. Some of the keynote speakers at the conference included Hossam Badrawi, chairman of the Badrawi Foundation for Education and Development; Ehab Salama, chief executive of El Sewedy Education; and Ahmed Shalaby, chief executive of Tatweer Misr. The conference also included participation of Andrew Turner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning at Coventry University; Reem Bahgat, cultural counsellor at the Egyptian Embassy in the UK; and BEBA's executive director Nadia Lamloum. "Public-private partnerships can help deliver education opportunities in Egypt, with the state as landowner providing land," said Hossam Badrawi. Coventry University has led the way for UK universities by launching a branch campus at the Knowledge Hub Universities in Egypt's new administrative capital earlier in September. The branch welcomed its first students on undergraduate courses across the newly formed schools of engineering, computing, and design and media. "We have been swift to take up the opportunity to set up a branch in Egypt and believe that our success in doing so will encourage other UK universities and schools to follow suit." John Latham CBE said.
