Egyptian Sector Research Articles

An Analytical Study of Water Resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt

An Analytical Study of Water Resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt

Effects of Using Green Concrete Materials on the CO2 Emissions of the Residential Building Sector in Egypt

Increasing the rate of construction material consumption has caused significant environmental problems in recent decades, especially the production of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), which has been associated with 8% of the world’s human CO2 emissions and is considered the leading binder of concrete. This study aims to investigate the effects of substituting conventional concrete (CC) material with green concrete (GC) in the non-structural concrete works of a residential building in New Borg El-Arab City, Egypt. It attempts to establish what the effects are of using GC on cement, natural aggregates, and CO2 emissions in the design phase. By using a design-based solution (DBS), we began with redesign, reduce, reselect, reuse, and recycle strategies to find an optimal solution for applying recycle aggregate concrete (RAC) as a replacement material in selected building parts, such as the internal floor, external sidewalk, entrance steps, and wall boundary. AutoCAD software and 3Dmax were used to modify the original design and obtain two design references with four different scenarios. Comparative analyses were applied to investigate the effects of different concrete materials. The results show a reduction of about 19.4% in cement consumption in terms of the total concrete of the building and a 44.5% reduction in CO2 emissions due to the reduction of cement in specific building parts. In addition, this solution decreased natural coarse aggregate (NCA) consumption by 23.7% in the final concrete. This study recommends that GC materials close the loop of cementitious material consumption to reduce environmental impacts and achieve sustainability in the Egyptian building sector.

The role of employee voice in moderating the relationship between transformational leadership and employee engagement Applied study in one of the governmental sector in Egypt

The role of employee voice in moderating the relationship between transformational leadership and employee engagement Applied study in one of the governmental sector in Egypt

The impact of adopting lean construction in Egypt: Level of knowledge, application, and benefits

The construction sector in Egypt faces many challenges related to managerial issues. The construction industry considers a waste generator sector that harms the economy and environment. This study supposes that adopting lean construction approaches is essential in reducing waste and enhancing the Egyptian construction sector's performance. Data was collected from one hundred and sixty-two construction professionals who have the experience to design, manage, and construct projects and are involved in construction sites in the new capital city in Egypt. The overall conclusion of this study is compatible with the same studies worldwide, which are related to the adoption of lean tools in the construction sector affects time, cost, quality, safety, environment, and relationships positively, which is raising the value of resources and money. Results indicate that construction professionals apply lean tools in construction sites to manage, monitor, control, and construct projects, although they sometimes do not know what they are applying lean tools. Results show the knowledge level of lean concepts is less than the adoption level. Respondents evaluated 31 benefits of adopting lean construction. The major benefits are economic-related. The main Lean Construction “LC” tools adoption benefits are: Improve process control, Improved planning, Material storage control (access and inventory), and Time reduction.

A Study on the Factors Contributing to Customer Loyalty in Budget Hotels in Cairo And Alexandria, Egypt

Customer loyalty has gained great consideration in recent years. It is crucial for hotel’s success and survival in this competitive market. This research intends to determine the factors contributing to customer loyalty in budget hotel sector in Egypt. This research was investigated by adopting a quantitative research approach. A structured survey was set up involving 33 items to measure customer loyalty and investigated constructs. The outcomes of this study highlighted low level of customer loyalty in budget hotels in Egypt. Four determinants were identified to have major positive impact on customer loyalty respectively: corporate image, price perception, physical environment and switching costs whereas CSR did not have significant effect on customer loyalty. The research implies that budget hotels’ managers should invest in improving the factors that were identified as influential/supportive to attract and retain customers. They should deal with customer loyalty as a strategic target and maintain a long-term relationship with customers to enhance their repurchasing intentions. This research contributes to boost customer loyalty in the context of budget hotel sector. It provides a range of tools and recommendations that will motivate customers’ re-buying behavior and make them more emotionally-tied to small hospitality organizations.

Improving Strategies of the Private Sector Participation in Telecom Sector in Egypt

The research aims to identify Improving strategies of the private sector participation of Telecom sector in Egypt and the research has found the high level the government’s role in improving private sector participation strategies in Egypt and The Medium level of Strategies of the private sector participation in Egypt and there is a statistically significant impact the government’s role in improving private sector participation strategies on Strategies of the private sector participation in Egypt in Telecom sector in Egypt and the more it increased level the government’s role in improving private sector participation strategies 1% is Strategies of the private sector participation in Egypt in Telecom sector in Egypt has increased 0.982%. The study has recommended the need to work to increase the level of awareness and culture of the community about the importance of the participation of the private sector in all economic and production fields, the government works to provide all financial, human, technological and legal capabilities and needs in order to encourage the private sector to participate in all economic and productive sectors in Egypt, work to encourage the private sector to abide by the responsibility towards the society in which it works and to provide all possibilities to improve the standard of living for its employees, working to provide legislation and laws that allow the private sector to participate positively and effectively in all areas, which contributes to achieving the required development goals.

The impact of building digital culture on employees' engagement in the ICT sector

Culture is the heart of any organization. In organizations, culture is like the DNA of an organization, thus each organization is a unique one. In this context, corporate culture is not only created by the founders, management, and employees of a company but is also influenced by national cultures and traditions, economic trends, international trade, company size, and products where organizational culture affects the way people and groups interact with each other, with clients, and with stakeholders. Digital transformation is a cultural transformation that affects the majority of people who work, and it will never be realized unless companies are still confident in their employees that digitalization can help organizations, people, and society achieve a better future. Based on that, employee engagement in digital transformation is a necessity, where an "engaged employee" is fully absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work and so takes positive action to further the organization's reputation and interests. Accordingly, effective digital transformation can never be achieved unless companies build confidence among their staff that digitalization can help organizations, people, and society achieve a positive future. The research analyses of the data were collected using the mixed qualitative approach. Based on that, semi-structured interviews with interviewees were conducted with the aid of an interview guide to collect the qualitative data. As for the quantitative data, a questionnaire was distributed to collect the necessary data to be able to test the hypotheses. The four main dimensions of digital culture: involvement, consistency, adaptability, and mission have a positive impact on employees' engagement in the ICT governmental sector in Egypt. Digital success requires companies to build a culture that is closely aligned with the business, talent, and technology strategies in order to facilitate and not impede the digital transformation. Therefore, aligning company culture and building the digital culture in the organization in the right way will affect employee engagement positively. In this context, the study concluded that there is a positive impact relationship between building digital culture and employee participation in the ICT sector.

Comprehensive Review on Renewable Energy Sources in Egypt—Current Status, Grid Codes and Future Vision

The development of the energy sector in Egypt is considered an urgent issue due to the rapid population rise rate. In particular, renewable energy sources (RESs) applications play an essential role in the coverage of energy demand. Therefore, Egypt has ambitious plans towards RESs to combine a sustainable energy future with economic growth. Egypt has high potentiality for RESs and their applications, nevertheless, the study of this modality remains below the required level. Due to the widespread use of RESs, communities are facing stability issues as the power converters-based RESs create a significant lack of power inertia, causing system instability and power blackouts as well as issues of power quality such as harmonics or resonances due to the power converters and their interactions with the system. This work presents a recent review supported by a statistical analysis about the current situation in Egypt according to the last data carried out from local/global reports. In addition, this review discusses specifications of technical design standards, terms, and equipment parameters for connecting small, medium, and large-scale solar plants, respectively to the Egyptian grid in accordance with the Electricity Distribution Code (EDC), Solar Energy Grid Connection Code (SEGCC), and the Grid Code (GC). Interestingly, the use of hydropower and emergent solar energy is considered the most promising RES variant, besides the wind energy at the coastal sites. This review characterizes the progress in Egypt and classifies interest areas for RESs recent study, e.g., photovoltaic (PV), solar chimney (SC), concentrated solar plant (CSP), and wind energy in Egypt. To maximize the RES hosting capacity in Egypt, various energy storage systems are required to be integrated into the distribution networks. Finally, a view of existing gaps, future visions and projects, and visible recommendations are defined for the Egyptian grid.

Risk Performance on Financial Assessment of Insurance Firms in Egypt

The subject matter of this study is the analysis of the relationship between risk assessment and firm size on financial performance. The population encompasses thirty-nine listed insurance firms in Egypt during the period 1999 – 2019, whereas a sample of nineteen insurance companies was selected. The financial assessment is a dependent variable, while the independent variable is risk assessment. This study used general linear multivariate analysis and descriptive statistics. The article is an attempt to investigate the relationship between risk assessment and firm size on financial assessment of insurance sector in Egypt. The results indicate that there is significant positive linear relationship between standard deviation of return on equity, standard deviation of return on asset, and natural logarithm of total assets with return on equity. Moreover, there is significant positive linear relationship between standard deviation of return on equity, standard deviation of return on asset and natural logarithm of total assets where on return on asset. Therefore, there is significant positive linear relationship between standard deviation of return on equity and standard deviation of return on asset on liquidity. Nevertheless, there is a negative relationship between natural logarithm of total assets.

The Impact of Restructuring Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit (PBDAC) on Financing the Agricultural Sector in Egypt

The Impact of Restructuring Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit (PBDAC) on Financing the Agricultural Sector in Egypt

The Impact of Corporate Governance and Audit Quality on the Investment Decision

The main purpose of this research is to study the impact of corporate governance and audit quality on the investment decision. In order to achieve this objective, the research collected literature review about previous variables. This research used survey method on the construction sector in Egypt. They are 97 completed questionnaires. Data was analyzed and hypotheses tested by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The research found that there’s significant positive impact of corporate governance on the audit quality and investment decision which means investors will depend on the corporate governance when they make their investment decision. In addition, investors will depend on the audit quality (the ability of an auditor to detect a breach (auditor competence) and the willingness to report such a breach (auditor independence) when they make their investment decision.

The role of implementing BIM applications in enhancing project management knowledge areas in Egypt

Egypt's construction industry suffers from poor management, which causes waste of time, cost, and material. Many techniques and tools have been developed to improve the project management process and deal with challenges to meet stakeholders' expectations. In Egypt, BIM technology would be efficient in managing projects at any stage during the project lifecycle if the construction processes have been linked to BIM concepts. The aims of this study are: to explore the actual status of applying project management knowledge areas in the construction industry sector in Egypt, to investigate the real impact of using BIM technology as a tool in enhancing the application of project management knowledge areas, and to explore the real benefits have been achieved from implementing BIM applications in project management. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the descriptive, analytical, and quantitative approach to reach conclusions. This study was applied in Egypt and was limited to those who have experience in using BIM applications in project management, whether preparing drawings, details, estimating quantities, cost management, managing, extracting the schedules etc. The research sample consisted of (1 0 6) respondents. It was concluded that Implementing BIM applications in project management could ultimately enhance the project management process and encompass all areas of management unevenly. Many benefits are defined, such as Centralized data management and information flow, improving cost control, maintaining the construction schedule, descriptive information (Object, and it is information), and Dealing with stakeholders with different backgrounds.

Vital economic threat of predatory birds and parasites to cultivated fishes in Egypt

Despite continuing worldwide expansion in production and demand, recent performance in the aquaculture sector in Egypt has been volatile, and yield has reduced. The most significant and visible problems arise from parasitic diseases and predation by birds. In this study, we examine the impact of local parasite fauna and bird predation in relation to economic loss in fish farms, with a focus on the importance of water quality. Water, fish, and bird samples were obtained from private fish farms at El-Abbasa in northern Egypt. Results showed significant (P < 0.05) production losses between 54.08 ± 1.88% and 62.11 ± 2.37%. Eleven predatory bird species were observed, with two species feeding in a variety of ways. The estimated total loss from fish eaten by predatory birds was ~1.59 tons over the six-month production cycle, valued at USD 1, 990. The studied fish had high rates of parasitic infestation: 63.89% in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) and 75.85% in Clarias gariepinus (African sharptooth catfish). Zoonotic fish parasites that may constitute a health hazard for those consuming the farmed fish were recovered. Hemato-biochemical indices showed significant decreases in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and total protein, and significant increases in white blood cell count, activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and levels of glucose and uric acid in parasitized fish. Water physicochemical factors deviated significantly from norms in the majority of metrics. This study's results could help us gain a better understanding of production losses at fish farms. Overall, the combined effects of predation by birds and parasite infection increased fish loss and resulted in significant negative economic effects at fish farms.

Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern, virulence determinant and AMR genes of emerging multi-drug resistant Edwardsiella tarda in Nile tilapia and African catfish

Edwardsiella tarda is a common fish pathogen, causing septicemic diseases and formidable economic losses in freshwater fish farming. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, molecular typing, antibiogram pattern, pathogenicity, distribution of virulence determinant genes (edw1, cds1, qseC, and pvsA) and antibiotic resistance genes (blaTEM, blaCTX, sul1, tetA, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, and aadA1) associated with natural E. tarda infection among Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Thus, 200 fish (100 Nile tilapia and 100 catfish) were collected randomly from different localities in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt and subsequently processed for clinical and bacteriological examinations. E. tarda was recovered from 24 fish, with the highest prevalence being reported in C. gariepinus (14%) followed by O. niloticus (10%). The liver and kidney were affected mostly with a prevalence of 54.5% and 36.4%, respectively. PCR results revealed that all the tested isolates harbored gyrB conserved gene, edw1 and qseC virulence genes, while 77.2% were positive for cds1gene. Paradoxically, none of the tested strains were positive for pvsA gene. Based on antibiogram and molecular analysis of resistance genes, most of the tested isolates were multi-drug resistance to six antimicrobial classes (penicillins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and lincosamides) and harbored blaTEM, sul1, tetA, blaCTX-M, aadA1, qnrS, and qnrA resistance genes as well as gryB, edwI, qseC, and cds1 virulence genes. The challenged fish exhibited similar clinical signs and postmortem lesions found in the naturally infected fish. Moreover, the mortality rate was 65% and 40% in C. gariepinus and O. niloticus, respectively. Therefore, the emergence of multi-drug resistant isolates of E. tarda represents a threat to fish farming sector in Egypt. Molecular-based detection is the fundamental tool for precise and early detection of E. tarda and for controlling septicemic diseases in aquaculture.

A GIS model for exploring the water pumped storage locations using remote sensing data

In recent decades, the energy sector in Egypt faces various challenges due to the continuous increase in energy demand. Fossil fuels may be running out, so there is an urgent need to find a sustainable energy source. Renewable energy is one of pure energy, but it needs to be stored using economical and environment-friendly means. Pumping hydroelectric storage (PHES) plants are currently one of the most economical and unique storage technologies available. In addition, PHES plants are working on creating a balance between the supply and demand of energy during the day. A GIS model based on remote sensing data was used to discover suitable sites for PHES plants and establish a (PHES) map for Egypt. The new PHES locations were filtered using a model based on GIS multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The GIS model criteria were developed by using the weighted linear combination (WLC) technique. The global digital elevation model SRTM 1 arcsec was used for depicting elevation head, head ratio, and terrain slope criteria. The National Grid, road networks, land use, and airport-restricted areas as constraints data sets were analysed using Arc GIS spatial analysis math algebra tool. The results discovered many suitable PHES sites covering a total area of 10428 km2 and, maps of PHES have become available for Egypt.

Assessment of quality performance in the Egyptian manufacturing industry

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the quality performance of the Egyptian manufacturing industry based on Flynn's quality management practices framework.Design/methodology/approachA literature-based questionnaire was developed to collect the research data. The sample studied included 193 professionals from different manufacturing firms in Egypt. The research model utilized seven first-order constructs to measure infrastructure and core quality practices and the model was analyzed by structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results of the study showed that infrastructure practices had a positive effect on core quality practices, which in turn, significantly influenced quality performance. The findings confirmed that Egyptian manufacturing firms have a good foundation of quality management practices enabling them to improve quality performance.Practical implicationsThis study provides a foundation for Egyptian manufacturing firms to develop a practical plan for implementing total quality management (TQM). In addition, the results of this study will help managers and policy makers develop a thorough understanding of the current status of TQM initiatives, enablers and barriers in Egypt.Originality/valueThe study represents one of the few attempts to examine quality practices and quality performance in the manufacturing sector in Egypt. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to examine these parameters in this context in Egypt.

The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the petroleum sector in Egypt: a descriptive analysis

PurposeThis study explored the impact of COVID-19 on the petroleum sector in Egypt, both economically and socially. Of all sectors of the economy, the oil industry has been one of the most negatively impacted by the pandemic, with oil prices plummeting at the start of the pandemic. Use to decrease demand. This paper aimed to analyse the main economic and social effects of the pandemic on the Egypt oil industry through an examination of the macroeconomic data reflected in the Egyptian balance of payments, the country's general budget and the oil industry's performance data. The study also conducted a survey of a set of workers from the Egyptian petroleum sector. The study thus concluded two levels of analysis; a macrolevel and a micro level analysis of the effect of COVID-19 on the Egyptian oil industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds upon the experience gained from evaluating market change caused by COVID-19 (Agosta et al., 2020), to analyse the socioeconomic implications of COVID-19 on the Egyptian oil industry. This study employed a survey analysis of questionnaires filled by on a sample of workers in the petroleum sector in Egypt. Data were analysed using the SPSS software, version 18.0. Descriptive analysis was reported as frequencies and percentages. The macroeconomic impact analysis was done by analysing macro-economic data pertaining the oil industry's levels of production as well as the data pertaining to Egypt's external balance of payment and public finance.FindingsThe paper concludes that although the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the socioeconomics of oil sector workers, reducing their incomes and costing them jobs, these effects appeared to be short term effects that could be minimised with the end of the pandemic and be mitigated through the adequate social and economic policies. No permanent socioeconomic losses were thus deemed to be a serious concern with respect to these workers. The study also concluded that, macroeconomically, lower global oil prices has had a net positive effect on the Egyptian economy as the causing an expected shrinkage of the overall trade deficit. It also has reduced the national budget deficit and has helped mobilise money into the economy, financing both investments and social expenses.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey was very hard to reach, where lot of workers in the petroleum sector (governmental) refused to answer the questions.Practical implicationsSome African countries may not have all the necessary most recent data of economic indicators needed to ascertain with certainty the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, at the event that data are completely available, analysts must consider that any worsening of the economy may not stem directly from the pandemic itself. Causality has to be clearly established. The survey therefore focused on the attitudes and perceptions of oil sector workers, irrespective of whether a given indicator had been affected by the pandemic or is seen likely to be affected by it in the future. All those responding have reported the belief that economic indicators, such as GDP growth, inflation and trade had been impacted negatively by the spread of COVID-19. They also believed the effects of the pandemic on transport to have had direct effects on the oil industry.Social implicationsThe social impact of the pandemic was less apparent, particularly among governmental sector workers compared with those in the private sector. However, freelancers have reported some issues that may be become more apparent through aggregated data.Originality/valueThis study has presented some preliminary estimates of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on petroleum sector in Egypt. The goal was not to be definitive about the virus outbreak, but rather to provide information about a range of possible economic costs of the disease. While, a detailed quantification of the socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus pandemic may not be feasible, it is still useful to identify possible transmission channels through which the pandemic may affect the Egypt economy and society. It is also useful to identify key issues that are likely shape short- and medium-term socioeconomic prospects in Egypt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Egypt.

Genome-Wide Analysis for Early Growth-Related Traits of the Locally Adapted Egyptian Barki Sheep.

Sheep play a critical role in the agricultural and livestock sector in Egypt. For sheep meat production, growth traits such as birth and weaning weights are very important and determine the supply and income of local farmers. The Barki sheep originates from the northeastern coastal zone of Africa, and due to its good adaptation to the harsh environmental conditions, it contributes significantly to the meat production in these semi-arid regions. This study aimed to use a genome-wide SNP panel to identify genomic regions that are diversified between groups of individuals of Egyptian Barki sheep with high and low growth performance traits. In this context, from a phenotyped population of 140 lambs of Barki sheep, 69 lambs were considered for a genome-wide scan with the Illumina OvineSNP50 V2 BeadChip. The selected lambs were grouped into divergent subsets with significantly different performance for birth weight and weaning weight. After quality control, 63 animals and 40,383 SNPs were used for analysis. The fixation index (FST) for each SNP was calculated between the groups. The results verified genomic regions harboring some previously proposed candidate genes for traits related to body growth, i.e., EYA2, GDF2, GDF10, MEF2B, SLC16A7, TBX15, TFAP2B, and TNNC2. Moreover, novel candidate genes were proposed with known functional implications on growth processes such as CPXM2 and LRIG3. Subsequent association analysis showed significant effects of the considered SNPs on birth and weaning weights. Results highlight the genetic diversity associated with performance traits and thus the potential to improve growth traits in the Barki sheep breed.

River Transport and its Impact on the Tourism Sector in Egypt During the Nineteenth Century

Transport occupies an important and dangerous place in the world’s economies and civilization, as it is a means of trade exchange between countries, it also helps in the transfer of sciences, arts, literature and various political systems. Indeed, it is the link that links the efforts of human groups to each other regardless of their different nationalities, languages, color or beliefs.The transport industries, although closely related to the various industries, are in fact an important group on their own. Each of the land, river, sea and air transport industries has its own advantages in the means and methods of transport. River transport was one of the most important means of transportation in the nineteenth century. During this period, river navigation companies in Egypt affected the urban development, so tourism companies and hotels appeared, which helped stimulate the movement of tourism. Hence the idea of research came. There is no doubt that the measure of any country’s progress is measured by what it enjoys. It has waterways, inland rivers, land roads and sea coasts.

Monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on climate change and the environment on Egypt using Sentinel-5P Images, and the Carbon footprint methodology

The main objective of this study is to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which appeared in December 2019 and was declared by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, on climate change and the environment through such measures as imposing a partial curfew and maintaining social distance measures, as well as the suspension of aviation and lowering the electricity consumption for the in-site work sectors in Egypt. These measures hindered the rates of people's movements. These events have resulted in a decrease of Greenhouse Gas emissions and air pollutants, which have improved the environmental conditions and promoted the reduction of the causes of climate change in Egypt.The study depends on analyzing Remote sensing products “Sentinel-5P images” to monitor the change in the air pollutants of the Greater Cairo Region (GCR) before, during, and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also depends on using the methodology of the Carbon footprint, according to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), for determining the size of the GHGs emissions avoided, as a result of the curfew in Egypt during the period from January to August 2020 compared to the same in 2019. The study deduces that the partial curfew and social distance measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced GHGs emissions in Egypt by about 15% and about 17% for NO2 emissions in GCR, 15.6%for SO2, and about 7.7% for the CO emissions, compared to the same in 2019.