Finance

A Look Inside the World’s Most Innovative Economy

The World Intellectual Property Organization analyzed 131 economies, and for the last ten years, Switzerland has ranked as the world’s most innovative country. The nation specializes in offering innovative solutions to complex global challenges, and has a unique ecosystem for business and investment opportunities. International corporations value Switzerland as an efficient, stable and productive location…
Switzerland: An Ideal Location for Global Operations

Innovative Swiss solutions tackling global challenges Switzerland specializes in offering innovative solutions to complex global operating structures seeking an efficient, stable and productive location to grow their dynamic high value-added businesses. The country is well known for offering one of the most competitive ecosystems globally. The nation has a liberal economy, political stability, international integration,…
Geneva: The Global Capital of Peace Fostering a thriving business metropolis

For a city with a population under half a million, Geneva has more influence on the global stage than people would expect. Within the Greater Geneva Bern Area (GGBA), lies one of the world’s most iconic and globally-minded cities. Endearingly referred to as the “world’s smallest metropolis,” Geneva is the capital of peace, the cradle…
Canton Schwyz: The founding father of Swiss HealthTech

The Canton of Schwyz is one of the founding cantons and gave the entire nation its name. It has proven itself an autonomous industrial location resilient to economic pressures, and an active innovation hub. GDP growth in Schwyz exceeds the Swiss average and productivity is astonishingly high. Interview: Andreas Barraud, Head of the Department for Economic…
The Evolving Swiss Financial Services Sector

A new wave of financial institutions are transforming the field Previously notorious for offshore bank accounts, secret holdings and masked account holders, the Swiss financial services and banking sector has completely evolved, with transparency at the forefront. Switzerland now adheres to strict regulations, requiring institutions to disclose all assets held by American account holders. In…
The Future of Work

January 23, 2020 A conversation with CEO of The Adecco Group, Alain Dehaze, who promises to continue to make the future work for everyone. Switzerland is home to a unique labor market that has gained a world renowned reputation for excellence, innovation, and continues to surprise with its qualified youth. How has Switzerland fostered such…
Interview: Michael McAteer, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton Ireland

Grant Thornton Ireland: Driving Business with Purpose How do you assess Ireland’s economy? Ireland is a small and open economy that it is heavily affected by global economic events. It is the reason why our economy was severely impacted a few years ago, and is now experiencing such a strong rebound. Brexit is Ireland’s biggest…
Interview: Nicholas Butcher, Managing Partner, Maples and Calder Dublin, Maples Group

Ireland Set to Become the Largest Common Law Jurisdiction in the EU Post-Brexit There is a strong initiative across the Irish legal sector to promote Ireland as a convenient and appropriate hub for international transactions Maples Group is a leading service provider offering clients a comprehensive range of legal services for the British Virgin Islands,…
Interview: Mark O’Sullivan, Partner, Matheson

A decade after the financial crisis, Ireland retains a strong globalized business model. Corporate business investment is at record levels and collectively, US multinational investments amount to $387bn, representing 67% of all foreign direct investment in Ireland and 12% of US investment in the EU. What core facts best highlight Ireland’s role as a gateway…
Egypt’s banking sector remains resilient

Banks retain strong credit growth, profitability, funding, liquidity, and loan profiles. The sector is extremely optimistic about its growth prospects in 2019. According to a Mckinsey Egypt and Morocco are among the top emerging markets in the Middle East and North Africa region. 2016 was a particularly active year for the financial sector with the…
Blended Finance: The EUR 45 000 million global market

The OECD defines Blended finance as the strategic use of development finance for the mobilization of additional funding towards sustainable development in developing countries. Private capital is pooled with public funds to invest in projects aimed at furthering national development. This can be done in everything from infrastructure, clean energy, climate change, or poverty alleviation,…
Interview: Osama Bishai, Chief Executive Officer, Orascom Construction

Orascom Construction is a leading global engineering and construction contractor primarily focused on infrastructure, industrial and high-end commercial projects in the Middle East, North Africa, the United States, and the Pacific Rim for public and private clients. The Group also develops and invests in infrastructure opportunities. What is your outlook for Egypt’s economy? We see incredibly…
Interview: Prof Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail, President, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASMT)

The Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport is a regional university operated by the Arab League which runs programs in marine transportation, business, engineering and is quickly growing its curriculum to ensure recent graduates meet labor market requirements. Established in 1972, the multi-purpose & multi-task institution specialized on offering its services to Arab…
Interview: Basil El Baz, CEO, Carbon Holdings

Carbon Holdings is a privately owned petrochemical company. They develop midstream and downstream petrochemical projects to supply the manufacturing, mining and construction sectors. They currently operate the Egypt Hydrocarbon Corporation (EHC), Oriental Petrochemicals Corporation (OPC) and are in the early stage of financing a third project Tahrir Petrochemicals Corporation (TPC). What role do you see…
Interview: Mr. Mohamed Hamza Talaat, Managing Partner, Baker & McKenzie Egypt – Helmy Hamza & Partners

A market leader in mergers and acquisitions, project finance and capital markets. Named IFLR Egypt’s “Law Firm of the Year” six times, with its Cairo office, ranked Tier 1 by IFLR1000, Legal500 and Chambers & Partners for Banking & Finance and M&A. With 40 years’ experience in the local market, they are the go-to firm…
Egypt’s education system is by far the largest in the region

Private non-profit education institutions are increasingly taking the lead and spearheading quality education in Egypt. Since 2014, Egypt’s focus on improving the private and public education sector has increased significantly. Vision 2030 has called for an overhaul of the current educational system and looks ambitious and promising. Serious efforts to modernize the education sector from…
Egypt is considered one of the fastest-growing offshore destinations in the world and its BPO and IT industries are gaining global market share

Egypt’s ICT sector is one of the fastest economic contributors to GDP. The overall revenues for the sector in 2018 surpassed EUR 4 000 million and are expected to reach EUR 5 100 million by 2020. The growth rate reached 14.1% in 2017/2018, against 12.5% in 2016/2017 The government has invested heavily in telecom infrastructure.…
A growing population in Egypt demands quality housing

One of the best solutions for Egypt’s constant overpopulation of cities has been urban expansion. It is part of an ambitious government plan to build new cities on the outskirts of every major governorate in Egypt. The Egyptian real estate sector has historically proven resilient to economic and political tensions over the past decade and…
Zohr: Massive new natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean will meet and exceed Egypt’s national demand for years.

Egypt is the third-largest dry natural gas producer on the continent and the largest non-OPEC oil producer in Africa. In addition, the Suez Canal and Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline (SUMED) are strategic high-security global transit routes for oil shipped from the GCC to Europe and the United States. Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa,…
Egypt’s growing population is reinforcing economic growth while severely straining national resources

Egypt’s demographic boom has been a blessing to the economy. As the largest consumer market in the Middle East every sector of the economy can confidently expect sales to increase backed by national demographic trends. The needs of the growing population provide massive investment potential, and the private sector continues to find new opportunities to…
Egypt’s economic fundamentals are improving, and at 5.4% GDP growth it is the fastest growing country in the region

Egypt is the regions fifth-largest economy and increasingly on the global investment map. According to the International Monetary Fund Egypt was the third largest economy in Africa with a GDP of EUR 208 682 million in 2017 after Nigeria’s EUR 331 061 million and South Africa at EUR 304 642 million. Egypt’s economic fundamentals in…
Egypt’s evolving socio-economic dynamics evolve amongst social and religious frictions

Historically, the Arab Republic of Egypt has been fundamental to the development of the Middle East and North Africa. To this day, Egyptian political thought and cultural influence echoes throughout MENA. Egypt remains an influential actor in the region, pushing towards the path of further economic and political stability. History: It is impossible to…
Interview: Mervat Sultan, Chairperson, Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBE)

Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBE) was established for the purpose of boosting Egyptian exports. The Bank offers banking and financial services to encourage the export activities of the agricultural, industrial, commercial and services sectors. One of the main business lines and activities of the Bank is the Corporate Banking and Loan Syndication Activities. How…
Interview: Ahmed Heikal, Managing Director, Qalaa Holdings

Qalaa Holdings is a leading private equity investment company in Egypt focusing in energy and infrastructure. Qalaa manages an investment portfolio consisting of 19 Opportunity-Specific Funds (OSFs). Its investments are distributed through 12 countries in the Middle Eastern and North African markets and span 14 industrial sectors. Qalaa Holdings is an African leader in energy and infrastructure.…