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Events on 2015 
Ceremony of New Suez Canal Opening, 6th of August, 2015Belgium has gladly participated with a high level official & media delegations headed by H.E. Mr. Kris Peeters - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Trade, and H.E. Mr. Gilles Heyvaert - Ambassador of Belgium to Egypt (who had an important role in arranging for this visit).
The delegation attended the whole ceremony and expressed their appreciation for that historical event and its very remarkable short time of execution.
On Friday, 7th of August 2015, H.E. Mr. Gilles Heyvaert - Ambassador of Belgium, kindly hosted a business meeting and breakfast for EBBA Board & some members to meet the delegation and transmit the Egyptian point of view to the Belgians.
Congratulation and long live Egypt.
Press Briefing with El Masry El Youm Newspaper (Elmasri Elyoum newspaper, ed. of 08/06/2015, Page 11)
THE PROJECT NEEDS A SPECIAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE ADMINISTRATION,
AWAY FROM THE ROUTINE
Dr. Engineer Samir Mahmoud Younes, the eldest son of the brigade Mahmoud Youness, the architect of the nationalization process «De Lesseps», the second President of the Egyptian Suez Canal, confirmed that the new Suez Canal project is a huge leap on the road to development and to broaden and deepen the channel, initiated by Nasser and his comrades, especially the period 1960 and 1961.
Younes said to «El Masry El youm »: the development process of the Suez Canal can be acquired in its true significance only in the presence of a framework for an integrated project for the Arab Advancement. He pointed out that the presence of Arab Project at Nasser is the one who made the nationalization of the canal, the year 56, a comprehensive Arab delight, and we all recall the meeting, which took place in Riyadh between King Saud and President Nasser and the Syrian president Shukri al Kowatly, and how they signed a military pact for joint defense in the face of France and England in case of implementation of their threat to use force to compel Egypt to the internationalization of the channel.
He pointed out that Arab countries have turned this pact into reality, after the aggression has occurred.
Eng. Younes explained his tend to launch a special legal system for the management of the Suez Canal area, pointing out that the emergence of modern management of the Suez Canal Authority after 1956 under the full independence enabled them to accomplish great work, then the performance tended to be a quasi-government because of the complexity of the regulations and decisions related to the work of the Authority.
However: «To be sure, the Authority is still up to this moment has a very good model administratively, financially and organizationally, and competencies by a high level of performance especially technicians, although they all are not of the generation of nationalization, but the Law of the region, which will be released, will increase the freedom of management and decision flexibility, which we need now, to push forward the wheel of achievement, I do not mean that the decomposition of any regulatory restrictions on public money. He stressed that the increase in the decision indecency of the authority must be correlated with a strict system for the selection of leaders and workers, to be those who have the competence and integrity and the ability of initiative.
And about his study in 1974 about the future prospects of the canal, he said that the University of «Plymouth» in southern Britain was the only awarded Diploma in Maritime Administration at the time, and he prepared a study in view of the world’s shipbuilding trends, also the study found that the best scenario is to deepen the navigation up to 60 feet forward the whole length of the canal, and this was costing $ 4 billion at the time, to be implemented through 15 years, which invites us to estimate the multiple achievement done by Egypt at the moment in the new canal.
Eng.Younes showed his sorry for the deterioration of the commercial convoy situation in Egypt, where reports indicate that it contributes to the transfer of about only 5% of Egypt’s foreign trade, pointing out that the commercial convoy’s contribution to Egypt’s foreign trade transfer is very limited.
He continued: All I can say as an expert in this field is to call to simplify the procedures of ships registration for carrying the Egyptian flag, because there are huge numbers of ships flying flags of Panama, Liberia, only because the registry there is simply and perhaps without having the ship to go to this country , leading to achieve significant returns to the two countries without any responsibility because of technical issues relating to the safety of ships and other is the responsibility of insurance companies who oblige ship owners with requirements they want.
He said that the first Chairman of canal management after the nationalization was the great legal Mohamed Bahgat Badawi, and most of the members of the board were of Legal Experts, and the primary objective of the Board is to settle the legal issues arising from the nationalization of the canal, and ending shareholders rights file, my father was managing director of the canal, and after few months became the Chairman of the Board of the canal & Managing Director at same time.
Younes ended his speech by saying that the family of Mahmoud Younes has received an invitation from the state to attend the ceremony of opening the Canal, which is a reference to the state who does not forget those who contributed to its construction, saying they visited the canal few months ago, and met Mamish who was saying all the time« My colleagues and I have accomplished », he did not say one time« I did » as well as he showed his appreciation to all former leaders of the canal, referring to his presence with his father at the beginning of the sixties celebrations of the anniversary of the nationalization of the canal.
Seminar with Mr. Philip Ter Woort, Director Egypt of European Bank for Reconstruction & DevelopmentOn Wednesday 18th of March 2015, EBBA held a seminar with Mr. Philip Ter Woort, director Egypt of European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, regarding the Economic Aspects in Egypt from an International point of view.
The event was hosted by H.E. Mr. Gilles Heyvaert - Ambassador of Belgium to Egypt, at his residence.
Around 50 members attended the seminar. Mr. Woort’s presentation was very promising. At the end of the seminar, he answered all attendees’ questions.
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Seminar with Mr. Mounir el Zahid, Chairman & CEO of Banque du Caire May 5th, 2015
On Tuesday, 5th of May 2015, EBBA held a seminar with Mr. Mounir el Zahid - Chairman & CEO of Banque du Caire, in the Egyptian Automobile & Touring Club in Cairo in the presence of EBBA Board members, in addition to a number of EBBA members.
The meeting was honored by the presence of H.E. Mr. Gilles Heyvaert - Ambassador of Belgium to Egypt, as well as Ms. Haguer Magdy – Chief of the Commercial Office in the Belgian Embassy in Egypt.
The seminar started at five o’clock, Mr. Rafik Attia welcomed Mr. Mounir and the attendees. H.E. Mr. Ambassador of Belgium thanked the audience and delivered a short speech, during which he explained the trade exchange between Belgium and Egypt and between Belgium & other European countries.
Mr. Mounir El Zahid followed with his speech. He thanked the Ambassador, the Chairman of EBBA, and the other Gentlemen. He explained in details the current economic situation and the financial situation of national banks and the relationship of these banks with the International Bank as well as the difference between national banks and private banks.
He also explained the new facilities and regulations established by the Central Bank regarding interest rates on deposits, commissions and appropriations for the import of raw materials and spare parts …etc .
At the end, Mr. El Zahid answered in details all questions of the attendees who were satisfied and enjoyed the wonderful, interesting, and useful lecture besides it was promising for an optimistic economic future for our country, our beloved Egypt.
It was indeed a fruitful meeting. It ended at seven o’clock and all attendees were thankful to Mr. Mounir el Zahid for his knowledge, proficiency and experience as a capable leader of a tradition Bank as Banque du Caire.
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EBBA 6th Annual mission to Belgium May 24th - 29th, 2015
Sunday, 24th of May 2015:
- A delegation consisting of 24 members left to Belgium on Sunday 24th of May 2015, for the 6th Annual business mission.
- Upon arrival of the delegation to Brussels, they were received by Mr. Hazem Kamal Hassanen - Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary, accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad - Commercial Counselor, and Mr. Ahmed Nasr - First Commercial Secretary.
- Mr. Hassanein hosted a Dinner on the delegation honor.
Tuesday, 26th of May 2015:
- On the morning of that day, a meeting was arranged for interested members of chemical sector with Mr. Yves Verschuer - Managing Director & Mr. Igor Magdalenic - Chief Economist of Essenscia Co., where they agreed to reinforce the relations between Essenscia & EBBA members. EBBA members are requested to dispatch their chemical inquiries to Essenscia so they may in return assist in allocating proper Belgian chemical suppliers.
- The delegation left to Antwerp, where they were received by Ms. Jill Suetins - Manager International of VOKA Antwerp Waasland Chamber of Commerce, and H.E. Mr. Ehab Fawzy - Ambassador of Egypt to Belgium & EU. Mr. Ambassador was kind enough to deliver a short speech demonstrating the relations between Belgium & Egypt.
- EBBA members were asked to present themselves individually.
- This was followed by matchmaking with VOKA Business International Clubs, where around 80 companies were gathering.
- Same as Essenscia, EBBA members were asked to dispatch their inquiries to VOKA chamber so they may in return assist in allocating proper Belgian partners.
Wednesday, 27th of May 2015:
- On that day, representatives of EBBA held a meeting with Mr. Maurice Vermeesch - Vice Chairman of “Eastern Africa Chapter” of the Chamber of Commerce; Industry; and Agriculture Belgium Luxemburg – Africa – Caribbean – Pacific (CBL – ACP).
- In fact, this meeting took place on real ground after 4 years of contacts. Nevertheless, it was quite successful and fruited the signing of a “Cooperation Agreement” between CBLACP & EBBA using both Egypt’s preferential agreement with some African Countries & Belgium’s old relations with others.
- On the same day, the delegation visited the Arab Belgium Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ABLCC) and was generously received by Mr Qaisar Hijazin - Secretary General.
- As usual, it was followed by a number of matchmaking meetings between ABLCC members & EBBA delegation members.
- In the evening, H.E. Mr. Ehab Fawzy - Ambassador of Egypt to Belgium & EU, organized a prestigious reception at his residence on the honor of EBBA delegation and was kind enough to invite Belgian officials, head of Belgian Chambers, as well as business partners of EBBA delegation members.
Thursday, 28th of 05 2015:
- On that day, the delegation left to Liège, where they were welcomed by Mrs. Marielle Germis - Head of AWEX Liège office of Wallonia Export & Investment Agency, who made a very interesting presentation about different possibilities there as well their willingness to enlarge their business relations with Egypt, answering to various questions raised by EBBA delegation members.
- Meanwhile, they visited the trade fair METAMORPHOSES, Belgium’s premier showcase for innovative materials, where they were asked to register their inquiries at their website same as Essenscia & VOKA to assist in allocating proper Belgian partners according to their needs.
- Finally the delegation visited the Provincial Palace where Mrs. Laurence Slangen – SPI Development Agency of the Province of Liège, presented and explained the economic assets of the Province of Liege.
- Mr. Attia gave little speech explaining the situation & possibilities in Egypt during the meeting with each of the a.m. chambers of commerce.
- During the meetings, Mr. Hazem Hassanein - Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary, and his assistants; namely Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad - Commercial Counselor, and Mr. Ahmed Nasr - First Commercial Secretary, were present and helped the delegation.
Friday, 29th of May 2015:
- Departure to Cairo.
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RAMADAN Iftar at Greek Rowing Club June 29th, 2015
On Monday, 29th of June 2015, the Egyptian Belgian Businessmen Association (EBBA) organized the annual Iftar Ramadan for the members. It was the 12th of Ramadan of the Hejri year 1436.
Around 85 members of EBBA as well as some guests from the Embassy of Belgium in Cairo attended the event, in a family atmosphere in the Greek Rowing Club on the Nile.
All enjoined their iftar listening to the famous Ramadan songs.
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Mr. Rafik Attia nominated for decoration as "Cavaliere OSSI" April 14th, 2015
It was an honor that H.E. the President of the Republic of Italy has nominated Mr. Rafik Attia - Chairman of EBBA, to be decorated by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, as honorable "Cavaliere OSSI".
On 14th of April 2015, Mr. Rafik was invited by H.E. Mr. Maurizio Massari - Italian Ambassador to Egypt.
Mr. Attia was honored to get this decoration by the Italian Ambassador to Egypt during a familiar limited reception.
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Seminar with Mr. Abdul Moneim Matar - Head of Taxes Authority Sept. 9th, 2015
EBBA held a seminar with assistance of Mr. Abdul Moneim Matar, First Undersecretary and Head of the Tax Authority, who apologized for absence for unforeseen circumstances, on Wednesday 9th of Sept. 2015 at seven o'clock.
The event took place in Automobile & Touring Club of Egypt in Cairo, at the presence of EBBA Board members & a large number of EBBA members.
Among the participants to the seminar were:
1st: from General Taxation Dept.(IRS):
1. Mrs. Afaf Mahmoud - Head of the Western Regions sector.
2. Mr. Mokhtar Tawfik - Chairman of the Central Administration in Head of Authority Office.
3. Mr. Said Abdul Rahman - Head of Central Department of checking.
4. Mr. Ragab Mahrous - General Director of Research.
2nd: from Sales Taxes Dept.:
1. Mr. Hassan Ghanem - Chairman of the Central Administration in Head of Authority Office.
2. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed - Chairman of the Central Administration of cases.
3. Mr. Mahmoud Khalifa - General Director of Research.
1. Mr. Hassan Ghanem - Chairman of the Central Administration in Head of Authority Office.
2. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed - Chairman of the Central Administration of cases.
3. Mr. Mahmoud Khalifa - General Director of Research.
The seminar started at six o'clock, Mr. Rafik Attia welcomed Messrs IRS officials and EBBA members, and invited Mrs. AfafMahmoud to start her speech, where she explained everything related to general taxes in details, and then her colleagues'words rolled on.
Responsible Gentlemen responded to queries from the attendees who were satisfied and enjoyed the wonderful seminar.
This has been a fruitful meeting that ended at exactly nine o'clock. Attendants thanked Messrs IRS officials at their best and their knowledge with a promise to meet soon, God willing.
Seminar with Mr. Abdul Moneim Matar - Head of Taxes Authority Nov. 11th, 2015
EBBA held a seminar with Mr. Abdul Moneim Matar, First Undersecretary and Head of the Tax Authority, on Wed., 11th of Nov., 2015 at 12:00 noon in Automobile & Touring Club of Egypt in Cairo in presence of EBBA Board members & lot of EBBA members
The following representatives participated in the seminar:
1st: from General Taxation Dept.:
- Mrs. Afaf Mahmoud Head of the Western Regions sector
- Mr. Said Abdul Rahman Head of Central Department of Checking
- Mr. Ragab Mahrous General Director of Research
2nd: from Sales Taxes Dept.:
- Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Chairman of the Central Administration of cases.
- Mr. Salah Yousef Chairman of the Central Administration in Head of Authority Office
- Mrs. Salwa Mourad Chief of Mansoura mission.
3rd: from other Depts.:
- Mr. Adel Fouda General Manager of Head of Authority Office
- Mrs. Maha Aly Information responsible in Head of Authority Office
The seminar started at 12: 00 o'clock.
Mr. Rafik Attia welcomed & thanked Messrs. IRS officials and EBBA members for their attendance, and invited Mr. Abdel Moneim to start his speech. The later explained everything related to general taxes in details, and promised to solve the attendees' problems with the Authority, and then his colleagues' words rolled on.
Responsible gentlemen responded to queries from the attendees who were satisfied and enjoyed the wonderful seminar. The fruitful meeting ended at 3:00 pm and attendance thanked Messrs. IRS officials for their effort & knowledge.
The seminar was followed by a business lunch where fruitful discussions took place between the taxes Authority key persons & EBBA members.
Seminar with Dr. Magdy Abdel Aziz - Head of Customs AuthorityNov. 29th, 2015
EBBA held a seminar with Dr. Magdy Abdel Aziz, First Undersecretary and Head of the Customs Authority and his assistantsDr. Ahmed Hassanein – General Manager of Technical Office & Mr. Yousef Hosni – Director of Resistance Department, on Sunday 29th of Nov., 2015 at 5:00 pm, at the Egyptian Automobile & Touring Club in Cairo, in the presence of EBBA Board members & some of EBBA members
The seminar started at 5: 00 pm. Mr. Rafik Attia welcomed & thanked officials of Customs authority and EBBA members for their attendance, and invited Dr. Abdel Aziz to start his speech, who explained everything related to the customs and applied development as well as what are expected to be achieved in near future, and promised to solve the attendees' problems with the Authority, and then his colleagues' words rolled on and questions of attendees & responsible answers to them in detailsthat made the seminar a wonderful and educating event.
The fruitful meeting ended at 7:30 pm and attendance thanked Messrs. Customs' officials for their effort & knowledge.
This was followed by business dinner where the fruitful discussions took place between the Customs Authority key persons & EBBA members.
Al-Ahram Al-Arabi inside the Belgian Colony - Naga Hammadi Sugar Factory (Article publish by Al-Ahram Al-Arabi newspaper during December 2015)
Architectural Heritage that is Unique, Unnoticed Yet by the State
Includes featured royal style buildings and the oldest cinema and theater in Egypt in which Naguib El Rehany was training, a tennis court and a swimming pool that is more than 120 years old.
Unique architecture Heritage that is a unique state-of-the-art, services area includes the oldest cinema & theater in Egypt with 200 seats, tennis court ,swimming pool, and cabaret decorated with rare oily pictures. It was used by the artist Naguib El Rehany when he was working as simple employee in sugar Nag Hammadi factory before he cuts his way to art, not to mention the rare trees & fountains , rest houses, and royal restaurants festooned with lighting that does not differ much from hotels "Cataract" and "Winter Palace" in Luxor and Aswan.
Kena – Osama El Hawary
A special nature was put by the Belgians before 100 years inside the colony of Nag Hammadi Sugar factory, hosted by the city of Nag Hammadi northern province of Qena after it has been bought by the Belgian business man Mr. Henry Noss from the Egyptian government in 1903, where major of managements were foreigner, and the company was keen to isolate them in walled cities, called colonies to keep them alive as the foreign management was injustice to the workers at that time.
A royal restaurant with wooden stairs stuffed with stones containing stoned from Pharaohs temples to settle rest rooms and the development of the infrastructure of the colony, this might be the reason it is still a solid architectural masterpiece keeping its luster that the camera of Al-Araby Newspaper recorded, , not to mention the cinema & theater which, despite the elements of weather, were not affected neither the building which carries the priceless machines to view movies nor the green wooden seats, which the colors remain not affected, and still rowed to show the greatness of space and time together.
And close to it where the tennis court with its red land still retains its corners and flanks, but still used up to the minute in training and practice of tennis from its lovers and its team, which for the moment are still training in it, and only two steps the swimming pool, which days for ladies only were allotted and in the same place is located cabaret and winter theater, where its walls are decorated with oily paintings drawn by number of Belgians and foreigners who wrote their names on them and the upper theater for dance, and a floor surmounted by a balcony to watch, and room supplement with value billiards table , which was included to it in the late 40th of the last century, before the Second World War.
From the entrance to the center of the colony where the fish fountain you will be astonished with its design and retaining its value despite the passage of decades beyond century of time, and waters still running , you can see the fish in the floor dancing at center of wooden Pergola to enjoy , in the background there are gardens of citrus fruits, rare trees face of the Royal restaurant, which food silverware are still up to the minute inside it.
Engineer Adel Ayoub, the current director of sugar company in Naga Hammadi, who accompanied the representative of Al-Ahram Al-Arabi, said he was keen since assigned in September to keep this value heritage ??which reveals the greatness of the value heritage ??in all corners of Egypt and its provinces and he refused to extend hands to tarnish the beauty of the place and keep the value of time in it.
He revealed that the rare Belgian colony, which the state did not pay attention to it till now, Saad Zaghloul visited before the 1919 revolution in his trip to upper Egypt on the back of the Nile steamer which toured the Nile Valley cities in southern Egypt at that time, and stopped in it with the insistence on workers hospitality.
Adding that the workers of Sugar Company in Naga Hammadi were the owners of the credit to the first gains of the labor movement in the forefront of Egypt in 1939, after more than 1,000 factory's workers had managed a syndicate for them and set its legal consultants from local lawyers.
The syndicate seized the opportunity of juicy season and progressed through its consultants at the time a number of demands relating to higher wages and reduce working hours from 12 hours to 8 hours, and payment of additional fees for excess hours of work and repair workers' housing and to send a team of day laborers to the cadre of permanent workers.
Which forced Henry Noss, Chairman of the company, to travel to them in March 1939 in Naga Hammadi, having contact the governor of Qena and official of Naga Hammadi police office, he recalled workers' representatives to inform them of some of the decisions taken by the company to settle their demands which recorded its first victory of the labor movement in Egypt.
We left the colony of sugar factory in Naga Hammadi and the rare birds still aspire to it while the state represented by the Ministries of Culture and monuments together migrated it which despite its annexation to rare buildings and restrooms continuous Skip old 100 year amid spaces covered with greenery and trees in harmony along the lines of Fusstat and Al-Azhar Gardens.
All of workers of the colony and its staff well aware of the rare value of this colony, we left it and coach of tennis Captain Shaban Ali Mahmoud is preparing to run the game on the red court amid attendance of workers to watch inside the walls of the colony, which was a witness to the oldest industry of sugar in Egypt since 1836 and within Photos & archive of the development of the sugar industry since ancient times.
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Meeting of EBBA members with European Union Delegation May 25th, 2015
On the 25th of May 2015 at 5:00 pm, EBBA held a meeting with European Union Delegation in presence of a number ofmembers.
The event took place at the temporary location of EBBA, located at 19 Darih Saad Zaghloul Street - Garden City. At the beginning, Mr. Rafik Attia welcomed the attendance and introduced the delegation to EBBA members. He then asked the head of the delegation to deliver a speech to present members of the delegation and explain the goal of their visit.
Head of the delegation mentioned they are ready to provide financial assistance for development in Egypt. Mr. Rafik Attia explained to him that the Association does not accept financial assistance due to the fact that it is a Businessmen Association, and that what was needed is the technological assistance which is the important target to the firm.
Mr. Sherif El Sirgany - Treasurer & Board member - confirmed that the technical cooperation is more important than financial one as it can be utilized in projects and exploitation of the available high technology and training.
Head of the delegation made a note that the government of Egypt applies old laws, especially when providing foreign aids, and that there is also bureaucracy details in the implementation of laws.
Mr. Rafik Attia responded that we are able to work within these laws and can adjust it to fit within our circumstances, and that as a private sector, these laws are suitable for us, so if they want these laws to be modified, they can ask the government and provide solutions and methods on how to modify them.
Head of the delegation said that they are asking the chambers of commerce and businessmen associations to work to change the instructions to accept the money and foreign aids, Mr. Attia clarified that EBBA and similar associations are not part of the administrative composition of the state and that the goal of these associations and chambers of commerce is to increase business opportunities for their members.
One of delegation members talked about an actual experience that he previously faced here, submitting a project to finance a lab for the Ministry of Agriculture and despite the continuous work for 6 years, it is not finished till date.
Eng. Samir Younes - Vice Chairman of EBBA – summarized his opinion that the European AID organizations should not look at rules & regulations across the board, as it might be easier to reach more positive results if subjects were targeted to a sector or even a part of it.
Mr. Boris Kaczmarek – Board member - commented that people are oriented and do not have the motivation and that they need training in various fields to push them and develop their performance. He also pointed to the problem that there are many institutes that give certificates that are useless to their owners, so it is not acceptable to allow some parties to deliver such low level of education and knowledge. He mentioned that to increase investment in Egypt, there must be specific criteria for education & training to change the general ways of thinking
The meeting ended at 6:00 pm, with a promise for another visit that comes with a longer meeting, to provide the adequate opportunity to discuss all topics related to development and investment in Egypt in details.