Egyptian Government Announces Significant Progress With Landmark Egypt Economic Development Conference

CAIRO, February 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

• Confirmed new high-profile speakers, including  Unilever CEO Paul Polman, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Citigroup Vice Chairman of  Corporate and Investment Banking  Peter Orszag 

Prime Minister of Egypt Ibrahim Mahlab announced significant progress with preparations for the landmark Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC), which will be hosted by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on 13-15 March in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Prime Minister Mahlab announced the additions of Unilever CEO Paul Polman,  World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, and Citigroup Vice Chairman of Corporate and Investment Banking Peter Orszag, among others, to an already impressive speaker list for the EEDC, which includes top leaders from Egypt and beyond.

A number of high-profile speakers from around the world had already confirmed their presence, including:

• Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, General Electric
• Bob Dudley, Group Chief Executive, BP
• Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor, Allianz, and Chair, Global Development Council for U.S. President Barack Obama
• Jin-Yong Cai, CEO, International Finance Corporation, World Bank
• Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP
• Ken Jacobs, Chairman and CEO, Lazard
• Shashi Buluswar, Co-founder and Executive Director, Institute for Globally Transformative Technologies, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (U.S.) 
• Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, CEO, Etisalat Group
• Sami Iskander, COO, BG Group
• Adel A. Ali, CEO, Air Arabia
• Shayne Nelson, CEO, Emirates NBD
• Habib Haddad, CEO, Wamda

The steering committee supporting the Egypt Economic Development Conference includes Prime Minister Mahlab; the country's Minister of Finance, Hany Kadry, Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Naglaa El Ahwany, and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour; the Saudi Arabian Minister of Finance, Dr. Ibrahim Al Assaf; and the UAE Minister of State, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.

President El-Sisi will conduct one-on-one meetings with political and business leaders throughout the conference. Attendees will hear first-hand from the Egyptian government about its medium-term macroeconomic policy framework, how it intends to focus on sectors with the highest economic potential. Topics will touch upon Egypt's future, energy, innovation, employment, social inclusion, financial Markets and the Suez Canal Development Project.

Attendees will also learn about specific investment opportunities open to international investors: "As part of the event, 14 local investment banks are currently studying 40 investment opportunities to short list projects that will be presented to investors at the EEDC. At least 15-20 of them are expected to be immediately viable, bankable projects. The remainder will be offered in the following months to investors," indicated Minister of Investment, Ashraf Salman.

"This event is vital for the future of the Egyptian people and for the stability of the region," said Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Naglaa El Ahwany.

"Saudi Arabia is Egypt's partner in this conference," the Saudi Arabian Minister of Finance Al Assaf underlined. UAE Minister of State Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said that this conference was "a first step in the implementation of a larger strategy that will ensure Egypt's economic revival," adding that the event will highlight investment opportunities in infrastructures and key industries.

About the EEDC  

His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is proud to be hosting the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) in Sharm el-Sheikh on 13-15 March 2015. The conference will be a key milestone in the implementation of the government's medium term reform program designed to accelerate the economic development of Egypt.

Attracting leading global figures from business and politics, the EEDC will highlight the extensive reforms the government has already implemented and showcase future reforms designed to restore fiscal stability, drive growth and attract investment with the overarching aim of improving the welfare of the Egyptian people. The conference will also present investment opportunities, across key sectors, to domestic and international investors.

The EEDC will reaffirm Egypt's potential as a source of political and economic stability in the region and a trusted partner on the international stage.

For more details see the dedicated conference website: http://www.egyptthefuture.com

The dedicated Twitter feed is: @egyptthefuture