Construction

As cranes tower over the skies of an ever-expanding Cairo and billboards advertising new housing developments, universities and malls proliferate throughout the city, it is clear that after several years of uncertainty Egypt is in the midst of a construction boom. Large government priority projects, such as the New Administrative Capital, the expansion of the Cairo metro and water treatment projects in Upper Egypt, continue to promote growth in the sector. The Ministry of Finance cites construction as one of the most important sectors in terms of its contribution to economic growth in the coming years. With strong demand for energy and infrastructure projects, as well as real estate, the sector is likely to see steady expansion. However, it has not been immune to the short-term economic instability in the aftermath of the currency float, posing challenges amid potential.

This chapter contains an interview with Osama Bishai, CEO, Orascom Construction.