New business lobby

  • Date: 13-Jan-2021
  • Source: Ahram
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Egypt
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New business lobby

One conclusion to be drawn from the 2020 parliamentary elections in which many businessmen stood is that business is seeking greater representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, reports Gamal Essam El-Din.



Political analyst Gamal Zahran divides the businessmen who ran for election into two categories. One group, he said, "are not members of high-profile business organisations and own or run small businesses.



"The main thing they are seeking from parliament is immunity.



"A second group, who are mostly members of the pro-government Mostaqbal Watan Party, comprise figures that head large-scale enterprises.“ According to Zahran, they are seeking greater influence in the formulation of new legislation that directly affects their interests.



At a time when the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli is increasingly dependent on the private sector to raise investment, and the newly elected parliament is expected to discuss new legislation dealing with the stock exchange, mortgages, electronic trade, investments and taxes, it is only natural that businessmen would seek a greater say in shaping economic policy, says Zahran.



Ahmed Samir, head of the outgoing Economic Affairs Committee, told reporters he expects that businessmen "will form some kind