Egypt is home to the largest population of millionaires in Africa after South Africa and Nigeria. Apart from the easily recognizable names like Naguib Sawiris, and Mohamed Mansour, there are other less recognizable Egyptian businessmen who have built multi-million and billion dollar empires in industries as diverse as real estate, agriculture, mining, energy and distribution and earned multi-million dollar fortunes to boot.
Their names don’t ring with the African public, and you’ve probably never heard about them before, but they are very successful — and very wealthy. Meet 5 Egyptian businessmen, who own businesses with annual revenues of $50 million or more.
Tharwat Bassily
Source: Pharmaceuticals
Tharwat Bassily, 76, is the founder of Amoun Pharmaceutical Company S.A.E, one of the largest private pharmaceutical companies in Egypt. Amoun has a portfolio of brands in areas including anti-infectives, broad-spectrum antibiotics and cardiovascular drugs. In 2015 Valeant acquired Amoun for $800 million.
Basil El-Baz
Source: Petrochemicals
Basic El-Baz is the founder and of Carbon Holdings, a company that develops, owns and operates midstream and downstream petrochemicals projects in Egypt. Carbon owns and operates a low-density ammonium nitrate facility that produces 300,000 MTA of nitric acid and 381,000 MTA of ammonium nitrate. Carbon holdings also controls Oriental Petrochemical Corporation (OPC), which owns and operates one of the largest polypropylene facilities in Egypt.
Ahmed Abou Hashima
Source: Steel and Cement
Ahmed Abou Hashima, 42, is a co-founder of Egyptian Steel, a manufacturer of steel and steel products such as rebar, wire rods and billets. The company produces more than 300,000 tons of steel annually across its 3 plants. Hashima is also the founder of Egyptian Cement, a building materials company.
Ahmed Sewedy
Source: Electrical Equipment
Together with his brother Sadek, Ahmed El Sewedy runs Elsewedy Electric Company, an Egyptian manufacturing conglomerate that started as a family business. The company manufactures and sells integrated energy products and services in seven energy segments: cables and accessories, electrical products, telecommunications, transformers, wind energy generation, energy measurement and management, engineering, procurement and contracting. Ahmed El Sewedy currently serves as President and CEO of the company, and holds a 22.44% equity stake.
Mohamed M. Abou El Enein
Source: Diversified
Cleopatra Group, the company Mohamed M. Abou El Enein founded and runs, is one of the largest privately held conglomerates in Egypt. Cleopatra Group operates resorts such as the Cleopatra Luxury Resort Sharm El Sheikh and has its tentacles in real estate development, ceramic manufacturing, media and agriculture.