Egypt approves new cement licences, $1.29bn industrial projects to expand production capacity
The meeting approved the issuance of three new licences to establish cement factories, each with a single production line, in addition to expansion projects at several existing cement plants. Al-Wazir said the new licences form part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen industrial production capacity and prepare for potential large-scale demand in the coming period, particularly in light of regional reconstruction plans, including the rebuilding of Gaza. He noted that the projects are expected to be completed and enter commercial production within one year. The ministerial group also approved requests from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to establish two new industrial projects with total investments of $1.29bn. Both projects will be referred to the Supreme Energy Council for approval of the required electricity and natural gas allocations.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 18:33 UTC
Tax Authority launches new platform to consult business community
Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA), announced the launch of a new consultation platform designed to engage the business community in tax policymaking. Abdel Aal highlighted Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk’s strong commitment to expanding channels of societal dialogue as a key pillar in developing the tax system and fostering a supportive, investment-friendly business environment. She made her remarks during a conference organised by the American Chamber of Commerce as part of the societal dialogue on the second package of tax facilities. The event underscored the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration with the business community as a strategic partner in shaping tax policies and procedures. Abdel Aal explained that the second package includes a number of qualitative initiatives aimed at improving tax service quality and enhancing procedural efficiency.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 18:24 UTC
FRA, Ministry of Supply partner to streamline company registration, compliance
The agreement aims to establish and equip a dedicated commercial registry office at the FRA’s headquarters, supporting ongoing efforts to modernise Egypt’s commercial registry system and enhance service quality for businesses and investors. The protocol was signed by Mohamed Abdel-Hamid El-Sayyad, Vice Chairperson of the FRA, and Mohamed Awad, Chairperson of the ITDA. Providing premium commercial registry services at the FRA will significantly reduce the time and effort required for company registration and amendments, helping to foster a more competitive and attractive investment environment. For his part, Minister Sherif Farouk stated that the protocol forms part of the ministry’s plan to upgrade and modernise commercial registry services and expand premium service offerings. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening institutional partnerships to improve the business environment and enhance investor confidence in Egypt’s commercial registry system.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 18:24 UTC
Egypt’s Al-Sisi arrives for Davos for WEF, scheduled to meet Trump
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is set to hold talks with the US President Donald Trump on regional and international developments at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to the Egyptian presidency. The forum’s agenda includes a series of events involving heads of state, leaders of international and regional organisations, and private sector representatives. Sessions are expected to focus on international cooperation, global prosperity, technology, innovation, and investment in human capital. The 2026 meeting convenes nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries at what organisers describe as a pivotal moment for global cooperation. Organisers stated the programme is designed to surface long-term solutions to interconnected challenges and unlock opportunities for growth and resilience.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 17:57 UTC
The Future of Egypt’s Culture: An Age of Anxiety - Dailynewsegypt
In a few days, at the Cairo International Book Fair, my second book, “The Future of Egypt’s Culture: An Age of Anxiety”, will be released. In The Future of Egypt’s Culture, I do not treat culture as a luxury or a marginal sector, but as an invisible infrastructure underpinning both state and society. Culture is not treated as an administrative file or a budgetary item, but as a shared public meaning. The Future of Egypt’s Culture: An Age of Anxiety does not offer final answers. He has authored studies on cultural diplomacy, the orange economy, and restructuring Egypt’s cultural institutions.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 17:49 UTC
The Future of the Arabian Gulf in the Event of a Potential U.S.-Israeli Strike on Iran - Dailynewsegypt
The possibility of a U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran presents an exceptional scenario that could redraw the contours of security and stability in the Arabian Gulf. In the event of strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities or military bases, a potential Iranian response would represent the greatest challenge to Gulf security. However, this power vacuum may provide extremist groups with opportunities to expand, complicating regional security dynamics. Conversely, Gulf states might accelerate their economic diversification strategies, as exemplified by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s digital transformation plans. The future of the Arabian Gulf in the wake of any U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran is a complex mix of opportunities and risks.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 20, 2026 17:33 UTC
President Sisi heads to Davos to participate in WEF
CAIRO, Jan 20 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Tuesday left for Davos, Switzerland, to take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) that kicked off Monday and runs till Friday, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”. The forum’s agenda includes a series of events attended by heads of state, leaders of international and regional organizations, along with representatives of major private-sector institutions, according to Presidential Spokesman Mohamed al-Shennawy. Forum sessions address means of strengthening international cooperation, supporting global prosperity, expanding reliance on technology and innovation as engines of growth, as well as investing in human capital. President Sisi, on the sidelines of the event, is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss regional and international developments of shared interest, the spokesman said. The two leaders will also discuss ways to enhance cooperation and coordination between Egypt and the US, in order to achieve interests of both countries and promote regional and international stability, the spokesman added.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 16:22 UTC
The GOP’s non-interventionist phase is over
A majority of Republicans supported military action in all five locations. Here are the percentages of Republicans who supported military action in each:Venezuela (83 percent)Iran (75 percent)Mexico (74 percent)Cuba (71 percent)Greenland (57 percent)Those are … remarkable numbers. And it bears emphasizing that “military action” is undefined. When Trump began eyeing possible military action in Venezuela later in the year, it wasn’t as hard a sell with his base. Polls before the strikes showed Republicans were already on-board with military action by 16 points and 19 points.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 15:37 UTC
Japan prepares to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant
Fifteen years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan is preparing to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. When all seven of its reactors are operational, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant will generate 8.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power millions of homes. The plant occupies 4.2 square kilometers in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast and is the world’s largest nuclear power plant, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. Against public opinionThe Guardian reported that weeks before the 15th anniversary of the accident and the wider tsunami disaster that killed an estimated 20,000 people along Japan’s northeastern coast, TEPCO is preparing to defy public opinion and restart one of the seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. But for many of the 420,000 people living within a 30-kilometer radius of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, who would have to be evacuated in the event of a Fukushima-like accident, TEPCO’s imminent return to nuclear power generation is a risky move.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 14:51 UTC
Dozens missing, 21 killed after massive Pakistan mall fire
Karachi (Reuters) – Pakistani firefighters began pulling bodies from the smoldering remains of a sprawling Karachi shopping mall on Monday where more than 60 people were still missing after a massive fire that killed at least 21. Videos showed flames ripping through the building as firefighters labored through the night to put out the blaze. Qasir Khan said his wife, daughter-in-law and her mother had gone to the mall on Saturday evening and were among those still missing. A firefighter searches through the rubble of a burnt building of a multistory shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 19, 2026. The blaze is Karachi’s biggest since an industrial site went up in flames in 2012, killing more than 260 people.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 14:50 UTC
Trump reiterates US desire to take control over Greenland
When asked about pushback on his desire to take control of Greenland, President Donald Trump said, “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much. We have to have it.”“They can’t protect it. Denmark, they’re wonderful people, and I know the leaders are very good people, but they don’t even go there,” Trump said, speaking to reporters in Miami on Monday night. “And you know, because the boat went there 500 years ago and then left, that doesn’t give you title to property. So we’ll be talking about it with the various people.”The comments echo remarks he made this month, saying “the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”More context: In 1721, a Lutheran missionary arrived in Greenland by boat, marking the start of Denmark’s colonization of the island, according to a Greenland government website.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 14:50 UTC
Trump speaks about imposing tariffs on Europe because of Greenland
US President Donald Trump discussed imposing tariffs on Europe over Greenland, saying, “I will do it, 100 percent.”In an interview with NBC, Trump said that Europe should focus on Ukraine, not Greenland. When asked about the possibility of taking control of Greenland by force, Trump said, “No comment.”European Union leaders are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to respond to Trump’s threats to impose additional 10 percent tariffs on goods imported from several allied European countries, starting February 1st. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK have each sent a small number of troops on a reconnaissance mission to Greenland, in a show of solidarity with Denmark, which is resisting Trump’s ambitions to take over the Arctic island it has controlled for nearly 300 years.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 14:31 UTC
Israeli forces continue to raid West Bank settlements
Israeli forces on Tuesday continued raiding several cities and towns in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian sources reported that Israeli forces imposed a complete closure on several neighborhoods in the southern part of Hebron, and arrested several residents after searching their homes and severely beating them. Israeli forces also raided the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit, and patrolled its streets. Cities, towns, and refugee camps in the West Bank and Jerusalem continue to witness daily raids and incursions by Israeli forces, accompanied by clashes, arrests, and the firing of live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas at Palestinians.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 14:27 UTC
Egyptian Senate approves final amendments to property tax law
During its plenary session on Monday, the Egyptian Senate gave the final approval to amendments to the tax law on properties issued under Law #196 of 2008. The senate also approved the government’s proposal to add a new article within the amendments granting Finance Minister a specific time frame. 196 of 2008 in a manner that ensures the implementation of the provisions of the law, within a period of six months from the date this law comes into force. The Senate approved the text of Article Three, which regulates exemption from late-payment penalties. The Finance Minister may extend this period once.
Source:Egypt Independent
January 20, 2026 11:48 UTC
MARAKEZ secures EGP 3bn financing from KFH-Egypt to expand District 5 commercial, office offerings
The transaction aligns with KFH-Egypt’s strategy of financing high-quality developments that support sustainable commercial growth. Exclusively designed for leasing, the new extension responds to rising demand from companies seeking integrated, high-specification work environments within District 5. District 5 offers direct access to retail destinations, banking services, dining outlets, and lifestyle facilities, creating a fully integrated and well-connected business environment. Reflecting this strong demand, MARAKEZ has established a waiting list for office space, highlighting sustained interest from companies seeking flexible, high-quality offices within a mixed-use destination. The upcoming expansion is designed to accommodate this growing demand while further strengthening District 5’s position as a leading commercial and business hub in East Cairo.
Source:Daily News Egypt
January 19, 2026 16:30 UTC