Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomes the holding of municipal council elections today, 18 October, in 16 municipalities in eastern, central and southern Libya, following the interruption of the process on 16 August. The Mission commends the agreement reached between the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and the relevant authorities to enable the resumption of this important electoral process, contributing to the restoration of the legitimacy of local governance institutions. UNSMIL encourages all registered voters in those municipalities to exercise their right and vote today. UNSMIL reiterates its call for all security actors to ensure a peaceful and transparent environment that allows voters to freely exercise their democratic rights. 

The Mission also welcomes the resumption of the electoral process in other municipalities which had earlier been disrupted or delayed and where voter registration is slated to start on 20 October with polling day expected in February 2026. The reopening of voter registration in these municipalities marks a crucial step toward ensuring that all Libyans can participate in shaping their local leadership. UNSMIL calls upon all eligible voters in these municipalities to register so as to enable them to exercise their right to vote in the near future. 

UNSMIL commends HNEC and all its staff for continuation of this important process, which in the past 12 months has successfully conducted 91 municipal councils across the country, under challenging circumstances.  It also commends local security officers for helping to create an enabling environment for elections.  

The Mission reaffirms its continued support for inclusive and credible elections that reflect the will of the Libyan people and strengthen the foundations of democratic governance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group, Robert Mærsk Uggla. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Adm. Ossama Rabiee and Chief Group Representative A.P. Møller- Mærsk in the Middle East & North Africa Hany El Nady. 

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the President commenced by emphasizing the deep strategic partnership between the Egyptian state, represented by the Suez Canal Authority, and the Mærsk Group and lauded the Group’s projects in Egypt to produce and supply ships with green fuel, which enhances Egypt’s position as a regional hub for the Group’s operations, both in the field of container trade and clean energy production. 

President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the Group’s efforts in the ongoing expansion of the Suez Canal Container Terminal in the East Port Said Port. 

The Group’s chairman thanked President El-Sisi for the vital role played by Egypt, under his leadership, in reaching an agreement to stop the war in Gaza and hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit. He stressed that these efforts will have positive repercussions for regional stability and shipping traffic in the Red Sea. He also emphasized the Group’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority, as it is the most important global shipping lifeline for supply chains and provides a more efficient and less costly route compared to alternative routes. He also praised the advanced services offered by the canal to transiting vessels. 

The Group’s chairman said Mærsk looked forward to supporting Egypt’s efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, noting that the East Port Said Port can play a pivotal role in this regard. He also highlighted the continued support the Group’s operations in Egypt receive, stressing that the scope of the Group’s investments and projects in Egypt reflects its firm confidence in the Egyptian economic environment and its stability. He praised the Suez Canal Authority’s significant development in terms of infrastructure and technical capabilities, which qualifies Egypt to become a leading regional hub for supplying ships with green fuel. The meeting addressed ways to enhance cooperation between the Suez Canal Authority and Mærsk in the fields of training, exchange of expertise, maritime transport, logistics, container handling terminals, and maritime services. 

President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to creating a favorable investment climate and overcoming any challenges the Group may face in Egypt, noting the state’s aspiration to increase Maersk’s investments and presence in the Egyptian market. The chairman of the Suez Canal Authority expressed his appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the SCA and Mærsk and stressed that the Authority looked forward to expanding the partnership with Mærsk by establishing more joint projects that contribute to supporting the national economy and enhancing Egypt’s position as a global hub for maritime and logistics services. 

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Presidential Advisor for Urban Planning Major General Amir Sayed Ahmed and Presidential Advisor for Financial Affairs Lieutenant General Ahmed El-Shazly. 

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the President was briefed on the implementation status of the Terminal 4 project at Cairo International Airport, being one of the strategic projects aimed at improving service quality and enhancing the airport’s infrastructure. In this context, the minister of civil aviation indicated that the new terminal will have a capacity of no less than 30 million passengers, raising the airport’s total capacity to over 60 million passengers annually. He added that the project will rely on cutting-edge smart technologies, making it one of the most advanced passenger terminals globally, offering an exceptional and integrated travel experience.

President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of the project to be based on a state-of-the-art operational system, incorporating the latest technologies in air navigation, ground operations, and facility management. The President also stressed the need to integrate technological innovations based on research and development outcomes to ensure the creation of a smart and sustainable environment that aligns with global standards.

The President also briefed on the latest updates on the state’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the civil aviation sector, including plans to develop airports and increase their capacity, as part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s objective to reach 72.2 million passengers annually by the end of 2025, in parallel with improving the quality of services provided to passengers, in support of the state’s target to increase the number of tourists to 30 million annually. In this regard, the President gave directives to strengthen the strategic partnerships to attract more foreign direct investment in the civil aviation sector, through the establishment of integrated investment zones around Egyptian airports, while stressing the importance of strict adherence to environmental standards in all sector activities and projects, in line with the state’s vision for a green economy and a more sustainable aviation system. 

The President also emphasized the importance of promptly identifying and addressing any complaints related to the quality of services at various airports, and handling them with seriousness and urgency in a manner that contributes to improving the travel experience and enhancing passenger confidence.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

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H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Governor of Egypt to the World Bank, met with H.E. Mr. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group (WBG). 

The meeting was attended by H.E. Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, and in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Regional Vice President for Africa, H.E. Mr. Cheick Oumar Sylla, Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and H.E. Mr. Stephane Gimbert, Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti at the World Bank, along with other officials.

This took place during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington. The meeting included discussions on joint efforts between the government and the IFC to empower the private sector and expand innovative financing mechanisms for local and foreign companies.

The two sides also discussed regional and global economic developments, particularly in light of the historic peace agreement signed by Egypt, the United States, Qatar, and Türkiye in Sharm El Sheikh, the ending of the war on Gaza, and its reflection on regional stability, as well as its positive implications for the Egyptian economy. They also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip in coordination with the international community.

Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the pivotal role of the IFC, the World Bank’s private sector financing arm, in providing concessional financing and investments to local and foreign private sector companies in Egypt. Consequently, Egypt is considered one of the Corporation’s largest countries of operation, with a private sector investment portfolio exceeding $9 billion. This aligns with the state’s efforts to empower the private sector and create space for local and foreign investments to lead comprehensive and sustainable growth and boost employment.

The meeting followed up on ongoing efforts to offer government airports for partnership with the private sector, in implementation of an earlier agreement signed between the government and the IFC. The program aims to attract private sector funding for airport modernization and expansion without burdening the state’s general budget.

Furthermore, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation referred to the European Union Guarantee Mechanism worth €1.8 billion, which was activated during the Egyptian-European Investment Conference in 2024. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that this mechanism represents an important impetus for the private sector to attract investments. She also mentioned the necessity of joint coordination for the IFC to benefit from this mechanism, which contributes to increasing available financing for the private sector.

Minister Al-Mashat reviewed “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience”, which aims to achieve integration between Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the government program, in light of the accelerating changes imposed by regional and international developments. This is intended to continue the path of economic reform and to focus more on higher productivity sectors that are better able to penetrate export markets.

Dr. Al-Mashat stressed that empowering the private sector and redefining the state’s role in the economy is a core pillar of Egypt’s new economic model presented by “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development”, with the aim of boosting economic competitiveness and shifting towards productive sectors. She underscored that the government is working to create an attractive investment environment that allows the local and foreign private sector to lead development efforts through clear policies.

The meeting also discussed various partnership axes with the IFC, including their contribution to desalination projects, the implementation of the State Ownership Policy Document, and the Corporation’s financing for various private sector companies.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.