The Enterprise Podcast

For our sixth and final panel, we brought on the guys who we think are likely to be Egypt's first climate billionaires by building one of the most exciting of Egypt's climate startups — Shift EV,  which efficiently and cost-effectively converts fleets from internal combustion engines into electric vehicles. We spoke with its co-founder and CEO, Aly El Tayeb, who started Shift EV in his basement, and Karim Hussein, managing partner at Algebra Ventures, and one of Aly's first investors. Participants: Aly El Tayeb (Linkedin), co-founder and CEO, Shift EV. Karim Hussein (Linkedin), managing partner, Algebra Ventures. Interviewed by: Hisham Abdien, executive editor, Enterprise and Patrick FitzPatrick, editor-in-chief, Enterprise.   Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://climate.enterprise.press/stories/2022/12/14/shift-ev-and-algebra-ventures-on-how-to-build-a-usd-bn-climate-business-91113/ Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | Anghami.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We interviewed on stage Leslie Reed, former mission director for USAID in Egypt and current director for Jordan. Leslie discussed the role development finance has in moving the needle on climate  — including a dive into how USAID is trying to help us save the coral reefs along the Red Sea coast. She also discussed the importance of developing human capital, the need for business and regulators to work together to expedite initiatives, and whether grants or blended finance would work best to support the business of climate.  Participants: Leslie Reed (Linkedin), mission director for Jordan (former Egypt mission director), USAID.  Interviewed by: Hadia Mostafa, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, the Enterprise Company, and Patrick FitzPatrick, Editor-in-Chief, Enterprise.  Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=eb943e86-f689-461b-9297-3ebd510cdbd7 Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | Anghami. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The massive re-plumbing of the global economy to become more climate-friendly comes at a very high cost. So, how are we going to fund it all? In come the banks. Banks are no different than the rest of us: They want to know where the opportunities are. They worry about not doing enough, but also about being accused of greenwashing. They want to be part of the solution. So, how are they contributing and pushing companies and clients to be more sustainable? Participants: Todd Wilcox (Linkedin), CEO and Deputy Chair, HSBC Egypt. Tarek El Nahas (Linkedin), Group Head of International Banking, Mashreq. Nader Aboushadi (Linkedin), Group Treasurer, Dar Group. Interviewed by: Patrick FitzPatrick, Editor-in-Chief, Enterprise. Moustafa Bassiouny, Partner, the Enterprise Company.   Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://climate.enterprise.press/stories/2022/12/07/getting-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-climate-finance-at-enterprises-climate-x-forum-90399/ Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | Anghami. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EFG Hermes Research Managing Director and Head of Strategy Simon Kitchen joins us on stage to talk about how business leaders across global growth markets are coping with climate change — and the macro factors that are both shaping opportunities and constraining room to act. Simon covers markets ranging from Egypt to Vietnam, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Kenya and regularly speaks with senior management from companies across the full spectrum of industries, from banks to electronics assemblers, garment markets to food producers.  Participants: Simon Kitchen (Linkedin), MD and Head of Strategy, EFG Holding Research  Interviewed by: Hadia Mostafa, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, the Enterprise Company, and Patrick FitzPatrick, Editor-in-Chief, Enterprise. Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://climate.enterprise.press/stories/2022/12/08/how-companies-across-global-emerging-markets-are-dealing-with-climate-change-90562/ Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | Anghami. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We dive deep into what the business leaders in the climate industry in Egypt and the region have to say about how the private sector is adopting greentech, where they see the opportunities and what they'd like policymakers to do to encourage further participation. Key takeaways include: There's appetite for climate — particularly in adaptation, what policies they'd like when it comes to green energy, and how climate could be the big export opportunity for Egypt.   Participants: Amr Allam (Linkedin), co-CEO, Hassan Allam Holding Mohamed Ismail Mansour (Linkedin), CEO and co-founder, Infinity Sherif El Kholy (Linkedin), Partner and head of MENA, private equity at Actis Interviewed by: Salma El-Saeed, senior managing editor, Enterprise, and Patrick FitzPatrick, Editor-in-Chief, Enterprise. Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.press/stories/2022/12/07/what-business-leaders-think-of-the-business-of-climate-in-egypt-90427/ Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | AnghamiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Egypt brought home major victories from COP27. We signed framework agreements for about USD 85 bn worth of green hydrogen projects. We also announced more than USD 10 bn in funding for the Nexus for Food, Water and Energy, or NWFE — a USD 15 bn program for Egypt. While we have a long way to go before much of the wins from COP27 will be tangible to the private sector, the opportunities in green hydrogen and NWFE are “now.” Our panelists helped explain how these two can be made actionable.  Participants: Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (Linkedin), CEO, Hydrogen Europe Khalid Hamza (Linkedin),  Director and head of Egypt, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Khaled Naguib, CEO, Hydrogen Egypt Interviewed by: Patrick FitzPatrick, Editor-in-Chief, Enterprise. Moustafa Bassiouny, Partner, The Enterprise Company Must read and watch: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=a197d083-f6fc-4194-8b1b-80f36f980dc7 Catch our series on the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum here: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | AnghamiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business world is constantly evolving, bringing us advancements in age-old industries, and entirely new industries that crop up in response to — or end up driving — these developments. We sat down with industry leaders, who have already adapted to changes and emerging trends in the past to better position their businesses for a constantly evolving world.  Participants: Nadia El Tawil (LinkedIn), Investment Officer, AfricInvest Mostafa Bedair (LinkedIn), CEO, Giza Seeds and Herbs Abdallah Sallam (LinkedIn),  CEO, Madinet Masr Interviewed by: Salma El-Saeed, Senior Managing Editor, Enterprise. Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here:  https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=75fa1d28-ba80-4708-9b16-9c5cfbd7c7d3See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast now brings you recordings of our on-stage and live panels that took place at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum. Panel 6: Industrial clusters: A natural accelerant for both exports and SME development We look at whether industrial clusters — which have been used to great effect elsewhere —  can be a way for SMEs to be part of a potential export-oriented economy. Our speakers shed light on where industrial zones are working for us already, how Egypt can leverage clusters to get a bigger slice of that cross-border trade, and how industrial clusters can bring together SMEs to work with larger firms. Participants: Shady Williams (LinkedIn), Managing Director, IDG Mohamed ElGebely (LinkedIn), Team Leader, USAID Trade Nada El Ahwal (LinkedIn), CSO, Transmar. Interviewed by: Katie McMahon, Managing Editor, Enterprise, and Hisham Abdien, Executive Editor, Enterprise.  Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=fea8aa18-2731-456a-96e8-6b16d91c2363&prev=falseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast now brings you recordings of our on-stage and live panels that took place at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum. Panel 5: How to become part of a multinational's supply chain We ask some of the biggest multinationals and suppliers operating here — in logistics, e-commerce, and FMCG  — what it is they're looking for in a local partner, product or service and what are some of the pain points they've had to deal with. Participants: Khaled Morsy (Linkedin), CEO, DB Schenker Egypt Omar Elsahy (Linkedin), General Manager, Amazon Egypt Tarek Kamel (Linkedin), Chairman and CEO, Nestlé Egypt and Sudan Interviewed by: Hisham Abdien, Executive Editor, Enterprise.  Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://logistics.enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=36a15026-935c-4002-b3dc-7018ccdacdf3See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From deciding the target markets, to focusing on quality, marketing in new markets, and restructuring a business around exports, our panelists discuss and provide key insights on what businesses need to focus on when building an exports and FDI strategy.  Participants: Hossam Sallab (Linkedin), CEO and Vice-Chairman, Sallab Group and Royal Ceramica Mark Wyllie (Linkedin),  CEO, Beyti Egypt Kareem Abou Ghaly (Linkedin), CEO, Pasta Regina Interviewed by: Zainab AbdulAziz , Managing Editor, Enterprise Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=aa92abce-b6c4-4981-ae72-d1198ed96c9bSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast now brings you recordings of our on-stage and live panels that took place at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum. Panel 3: Made in Egypt: Lessons from FMCG, fertilizers, and garments. Food and beverages, fertilizers and chemical products, and textiles and garments are consistently among the three industries that either have the highest value of exports out of Egypt. We spoke to some of the winners from these key industries to gauge what they did right, what obstacles they overcame. Participants: Mohamed Talaat Khalifa (Linkedin), CEO of Concrete  Shams Eweis (Linkedin), Corporate Affairs Manager for North Africa and the Levant, Mars  Tarek Hosny (Linkedin), Head of Investments and Projects, Fertiglobe Interviewed by: Salma El Saeed, Senior Managing Editor, Enterprise Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=aa92abce-b6c4-4981-ae72-d1198ed96c9bSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast now brings you recordings of our on-stage and live panels that took place at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum. Panel 2: How do you identify and pitch foreign partners — and how can they identify you? Whether they're investors, technology providers, potential JV partners, or would-be acquirers, they all want to know what's in it for them. How do you figure out what they're looking for — and whether that dovetails with what you want or need? Participants: Hossam Abou Moussa (Linkedin), Partner, Apis Hassan Massoud (Linkedin), associate director and head of private equity (Southern Mediterranean), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Cheick-Oumar Sylla (Linkedin), Director for North Africa and Horn of Africa, International Finance Corporation Interviewed by: Moustafa Bassiouny. Partner, The Enterprise Company Must read: You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=6756c86f-f7e5-4cbd-9445-8e941a356641See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast now brings you recordings of our on-stage and live panels that took place at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum. Panel 1: No looking back: Exports and FDI are the way forward — here are lessons from what's worked around the world. Participants: Yassir Zouaoui (LinkedIn), Partner, McKinsey. Yasmine Khamis (LinkedIn), Chair, The Orientals Group.   In discussion with: Helmy Ghazi, deputy CEO, HSBC Egypt and Hisham Abdien, executive editor, Enterprise.   Must reads: Our five point recipe for how to build an export-oriented  economy in Egypt: https://enterprise.press/issues/2022/10/18/am-a-five-step-recipe-to-boost-exports-fdi-and-make-sure-egypt-never-has-to-ask-the-imf-for-another-cent/ You can read our coverage of the panel here: https://enterprise.news/news/story?storyId=69da074e-7e5a-45b1-b243-caf5c1a338b6See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How CIRA evolved into a fully vertically-integrated, multifaceted, education platform and became CIRA Education: Since its founding in 1993, Egypt's largest listed private sector education company, CIRA Education (formerly just CIRA), weathered many storms and challenges to the sector.  Just two years ago, covid had shut down classrooms, distance learning was a thing, and foreign ownership limits had been instituted for the private sector. Most recently, the sector was slammed by the high inflation, while legacy problems remain, including a high population to classroom ratio and a fragmented regulatory environment. CIRA Education survived these changes by not just adapting, but leading on some of the sector's milestones. This year was no different. CIRA Education is helping proliferate liberal arts education in Upper Egypt with the launch of Badr University. It is also introducing the concept of technical universities to Egypt by breaking ground soon on Cairo Saxony university. The company is also making its foray into pre-K outside of Cairo with the launch of a pre-K school in Fayum. There's also CIRA Talent that looks to build viable career paths for artists, dancers, musicians and athletes across the nation. And running the infrastructure for the whole operation is CIRA Services. Then, there's the company's three-year, EGP 2 bn future flow bond sale — Egypt's first — which not only made the company an innovator in finance, but gave added credibility to the argument that education is a defensive sector.  Here to discuss all that transformation with the Enterprise Podcast is CIRA Education's CEO Mohamed El Kalla. His love for social entrepreneurship has its roots in his student days, where his advanced studies in refugee law saw him living with nuns, and his subsequent work with the UN saw him lead programs in Darfur. During his time there, the UN had begun to see the importance of the private sector in enacting tangible change on the ground and he himself had worked on developing CSR and sustainability practices and bottom of the pyramid social engagement. He took on those lessons when he returned to the family business back in 2009, where item #1 on his agenda was instituting transparent governance. He has helmed CIRA Education's evolution ever since.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How ASDC is transforming Somabay to a first-home destination: When Somabay first emerged as a tourist destination over two decades ago, it had little to offer other than its gorgeous 11-km coastline with a five-and-a-half km sandy beach. Fast forward to today and developer Abu Soma Touristic Development Company (ASDC) has made Somabay a home to a wide selection of luxury hotels and residential properties that exude a certain lifestyle. Enterprise sat down with Ibrahim El Messiri, the CEO of ASDC — the master developers of Somabay — who talks us through his strategy to make Somabay a first-home destination where people and families can live, work, study, and enjoy themselves. For El Messiri, this meant finding the right target market and creating the right identity and lifestyle for Somabay. El Messiri is no stranger to creating communities and developing cities, having worked with the likes of Bechtel for 15 years and Madinet Nasr Housing for three. His career saw him work on projects such as the Doha International Airport, the Channel Tunnel in the UK, and Abu Dhabi Port. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Enterprise Podcast, our What’s Next editor Gehad Hussein hosts a roundtable discussion with several AI players in Egypt. Our private sector guests gathered for an in-depth conversation on the status of the sector in Egypt and how companies can get started with their AI activities. The bottom line is to have the right talent and tools in place, while being very mindful of what data is being collected. And most importantly: start out with a pilot project, before going into massive AI mode. Our guests are: Ahmed Abaza, the founder and CEO of Synapse Analytics, which advises other companies on how best to infuse AI into their businesses. Synapse helps enterprises develop, build, manage and scale AI solutions to optimize operations and grow more sustainably. Ahmed Roshdy, the analytics and data science lead at Vodafone Egypt. He runs the 18-person strong department that’s been focusing on integrating AI into the company’s operations. Projects he’s led include an AI platform that recommends different services and packages to users. So far, over 11 mn customers have benefited from that engine. Mohamed Soliman, the data, AI, automation and security leader at IBM Egypt. IBM has been at the forefront of AI adoption and development globally, and Mohamed will give us some insight on what the company has been up to in Egypt. These include helping the Supply Ministry with implementing AI applications at Egypt’s grain silos. ** Subscribe to Making it, our interview show where we talk to CEOs and business leaders in Egypt on how to build a great business. https://bit.ly/35lugvb. ** Subscribe to Enterprise, our 6am briefing on business, finance, and economics in Egypt at www.enterprise.press. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Enterprise Podcast, Patrick continues his roundtable discussion with major fintech players in Egypt. This week, our private sector guests stuck around for an in-depth conversation on where the sector goes from here in terms of funding and consolidation — at home and abroad. The general consensus appears to be that while valuations in Egypt are still primed to go up, growth is expected to slow down in light of the current macro climate and historic pitfalls like the brain drain. The solution: More integration with Africa. But first, a refresher on our guests: Karim Nour, the co-founder of Kashat — the first nano-finance company in MENA providing financial services to the un- and under-banked. Omar Saleh, the CEO and co-founder of Khazna, which now offers general purpose credit; buy now, pay later (BNPL); and bill payment services. Aly El Shalakany, a corporate lawyer and longtime angel investor turned venture capitalist who is now the CEO of the Cairo Angels Syndicate Fund and an investor in Kashat. Ashley Lewis is a partner focused on Africa with Accion Venture Lab and has been investing in financial services and social ventures across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia for over a decade. Lewis was one of the first investors at Khazna. ** Subscribe to Making it, our interview show where we talk to CEOs and business leaders in Egypt on how to build a great business. https://bit.ly/35lugvb. ** Subscribe to Enterprise, our 6am briefing on business, finance, and economics in Egypt at www.enterprise.press.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Enterprise Podcast, Patrick hosts a roundtable discussion with major players in the sector to discuss what’s next for fintech. Our entrepreneurs and investors take us through the untapped potential of fintech and which industries in Egypt are most primed for change through fintech. We also get rare insights from the central bank on what regulators are working on to help expand and propel Egypt’s fintech sector to the next stage of its development, including a new law to regulate crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending. Our guests are: Karim Nour, the co-founder of Kashat — the first nano-finance company in MENA providing financial services to the un- and under-banked. Karim is also the non-executive chairman of Tarek Nour Communications Group. Omar Saleh, the CEO and co-founder of Khazna. Omar joined us the same day his company announced a blockbuster USD 38 mn Series A round. Aly El Shalakany, a corporate lawyer and longtime angel investor turned venture capitalist who is now the CEO of the Cairo Angels Syndicate Fund. Ashley Lewis, a partner focused on Africa with Accion Venture Lab and has been investing in financial services and social ventures across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia for over a decade. El Shalakany is an investor in Kashat while Lewis was one of the first investors at Khazna. Dr. Rasha Negm. Rasha is an assistant sub-governor of the CBE where she’s the head of fintech and innovation. Rasha is not a newcomer to fintech. A veteran of the banking industry, she led product strategy for Vodafone Cash before joining the CBE. ** Subscribe to Making it, our interview show where we talk to CEOs and business leaders in Egypt on how to build a great business. https://bit.ly/35lugvb. ** Subscribe to Enterprise, our 6am briefing on business, finance, and economics in Egypt at www.enterprise.press. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our pilot episode, we sit down with International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat to discuss a variety of different topics including her personal philosophy on economic reform, and her career trajectory from the youngest intern at the IMF to her public service at the Egyptian Central Bank, the Ministry of Tourism and her current role at the MOIC.Al Mashat outlines the economic diplomacy responsibilities of her ministry, which coordinates bilateral, multilateral and multi stakeholder development partnerships on both public and private sector projects as part of a larger goal - implementing and financing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed upon by UN members by 2030. Al Mashat pushes the Global Partnership Narrative, which aims to create mass awareness on the impact of achieving the SDGs by presenting it through a lens with people at the core, projects in action, and purpose as the driver. We discuss how Covid-19 has impacted Egypt’s 2030 vision, and the subsequent fast-track of projects seen as crucial in mitigating the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic.** Subscribe to Enterprise, our 6am briefing on business, finance and economics in Egypt (also free) at enterprise.press.** Subscribe to Making it here https://bit.ly/35lugvb.After Hours is a working title. We welcome your suggestions for the title of the show and any suggestions for guests and topics at editorial@enterprise.pressIf you liked this episode, leave us a comment and a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Show is an Egypt-focused business, policy and pop culture talk show, produced by Enterprise, the daily brief on all matters business, finance, and economics. Each episode will see us sit down with interesting and impactful business leaders, policy-makers, and cultural icons to discuss their life's successes, failures, and their views on major topics that shape Egypt todaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.