Egypt

Egypt’s power sector is racing to cope with demand, which is growing at the relatively high rate of about 6% per year. The rate is attributed to a fast-growing population and a subsidy regime that suppresses the price of electricity below a cost-reflective level that would normally encourage conservation. The state has a long-term plan to...

The recent history of bancassurance in Egypt has at times been a troubled one. While the concept was enthusiastically adopted in the period of sustained economic growth leading up to 2008, the pace of the industry’s expansion exposed a number of weaknesses. Chief among these were a lack of adequately trained staff and an increasing amount of...

The Egyptian insurance industry, one of the oldest in the region, has shown a welcome degree of resilience in recent years. Despite its long history, however, the market remains at a relatively nascent stage of growth compared to those in advanced economies, characterised by a low penetration rate and modest insurance density. While this means...

With nine operators in the Egyptian insurance sector offering takaful (Islamic insurance), sharia-compliant coverage is already a well-established component of the industry. Many market observers, however, feel that compared to its success in the Gulf, the Egyptian takaful story is one of unrealised potential.

The prospect of a new commodities exchange in Egypt is one of the more significant developments to emerge in 2016. While the possibility of creating a new market has been floated for years, the current proposal, if developed as planned, will be a regional first. It would also correct the currently dysfunctional system that governs trade in...

OUTLINE: The first Egyptian mutual fund was launched in 1994. Since that time, the industry has evolved slowly. There are nearly 100 funds operating under the supervision of the Egyptian Financial Services Authority (EFSA) at present. There are specialised funds in a number of different asset...