Egypt plans reopening 1,600 factories, incentives for foreign investment

Egypt's prime minister has met with his economic cabinet to discuss the reopening of 1,600 factories closed since the outbreak of January's revolution, says a report on Ahram's Arabic gate.

Kamal El-Ganzouri, appointed to the premiership by Egypt's ruling military in late November, is also looking into new measures to attract foreign investment, according to Ahram.

Such investment was hit hard by the revolution; a total of US$1.97 billion flowed out of Egypt during the first quarter of 2011, according to Central Bank figures in July. This stood in sharp contrast to net inflow of $656 million for the final quarter of 2010.

The report added that Egyptian banks may grant facilities to fund incomplete or currently insolvent projects, as well as help expand small and medium-size enterprises.