The Future of Franco-Egyptian Trade

Major macroeconomic issues, Egyptian megaprojects, urban development challenges, the development of renewable energy sources ... . Prominent participants spent an entire day analysing the many complex issues affecting the fast-changing Egyptian economy.

This special edition of the Economic Forums was part of the major Egyptian season organised by the AWI (IMA) around the exhibition ‘L'épopée du canal de Suez, des pharaons au XXI^e siècle’ (‘The Saga of the Suez Canal: from the Pharaohs to the Twenty-First Century’).

Opening speech

• Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe)

Inaugural session

• Delphine Gény-Stephann, Secretary of State to the French Minister of the Economy and Finance
• Sahar Nasr, Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation
• Hala Helmy El Said, Minister of Planning, Follow-up, and Administrative Reform

Round Table: ‘The Egyptian Macroeconomic Context: Structural Reforms and Business Opportunities’

Over the last four years, the Egyptian economy has been marked by extensive administrative reforms aimed at making the country more attractive for foreign investors. Many budgetary reforms, tax incentives, and other strategies in Egypt’s 2030 Vision for Sustainable Development focus on promoting the priority regions and sectors. Although they need to be continued in order to ensure sustained economic growth in Egypt, these initiatives are already having a positive impact on foreign direct investment (FDI) and the business climate. This round table endeavoured to analyse the key sectors and the promising business opportunities in the fast-changing Egyptian economy, and its characteristics.

• Pierre Finas, CEO, Crédit Agricole Egypte
• Hala Helmy El Said, Minister of Planning, Follow-up, and Administrative Reform
• Sahar Nasr, Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation
• Stéphane Romatet, French Ambassador to Egypt

Chaired by: Karim Refaat, CEO, N Gage Consulting

Round Table: ‘The Urban Challenge: What is the Future of Egypt’s Towns and Cities?’

Egypt’s population growth requires a continuous effort to adapt the infrastructure, housing offer, education, and healthcare to meet a growing demand. Egyptian towns and cities need to meet this challenge, while integrating the modern requirements of smart, sustainable, and inclusive urban development into their strategies. More than just urban rearrangement, there is a real need for a debate on local governance, in order to transform these areas of stagnation, hampered by youth unemployment, into areas of wealth creation and employment.

• Olivier Badard, Director of RATP Dev’s Asia, Middle East, and North Africa Business Unit
• Hady Nassif, General Delegate for the Middle East, Saint-Gobain
• Pierre-Yves Pouliquen, CEO of the Africa, Middle East, and India Business Unit, Suez

Chaired by: Malick Diawara, Editorial Manager, Le Point Afrique

Keynote speech

• Naguib Sawiris, Chairman, OTMT

Chaired by: Amal Nader, journalist, Monte Carlo Doualiya

Round Table: ‘Renewable Energy Sources: What Kind of Partnerships can be Forged Between France and Egypt?’

Traditionally oriented towards fossil fuel resources, the energy sector in Egypt has experienced a profound shift over the past few years, initiated by the Egyptian government’s 2030 Vision for Sustainable Development. The development of renewable energy sources, in close collaboration with foreign partners and investors, is now a priority. There are therefore many opportunities for French companies, whose expertise in new sources of energy is widely recognised.

• Amine Homman Ludiye, CEO, North Africa, Engie
• Jérémie Pellet, Deputy CEO, AFD
• Ahmed El Sewedy, CEO, Elsewedy Electric
• Tarek Khattab, Senior Business Development Manager, Orascom Construction

Chaired by: Myriam Mascarello, economic journalist, France 24

The Arab World Institute would like to thank the Economic Forum’s partners 

With the kind participation of the French Embassy in Egypt and the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in France