From a childhood spent in Zambia and Botswana to living around the world as the spouse of a diplomat, Sarah Abdelrahman’s unique perspectives as a “global Egyptian” made for a thought-provoking talk in the “CEO 123 Tell Me More” series on 10 January. 

Dressed in her country’s traditional attire – which elicited many questions from the Chamber’s audience – Abdelrahman wove the threads of her multicultural experiences into a colourful presentation that centred on finding balance in our lives. Explaining that life was like a wheel, she said it was important to not let one aspect dominate the others in order to keep “the wheel of life” steady and maintain the equilibrium for harmony and success.  

Abdelrahman, who juggles many roles, seems to epitomize this, and in doing so has become a fitting ambassador for her country. She is the IR publications manager at Egypt’s biggest telecom operator, wife of the Consul general of Egypt to Hong Kong, and mother to two teenagers. She has also worked at EY and PwC, as well as a peacekeeping training centre. 

Touching on her role as a global citizen, she stressed on the need to stay true to one’s identity. “I see myself as a ‘global Egyptian,’” said Abdelrahman. “I have been lucky enough to travel around the world, experience other cultures and learn about what various nations have to offer. At the same time, I proudly embrace my heritage and country, and stay close to my roots.”

Opportunities in Egypt 

A diverse country known for its agriculture, manufacturing and energy sectors, Egypt is Africa’s biggest oil producer outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The textiles industry counts among the country’s largest employers.  

In the past few years, with the HKSAR Government leading more outreach initiatives to the Middle East as it seeks to diversify markets and strengthen ties both culturally and economically, there has been growing interest in Hong Kong about the region.

Strategically located between Europe and Africa, Egypt is moving towards becoming more global and connected, said Abdelrahman. “It has transformed a lot in terms of development, and there has also been a change in people’s mindsets.” 

While the country is famous for its rich history and architecture, she revealed that a lot of people were not aware that Egypt has long been making a mark in sports: the country boasts some of the world’s best squash players. In fact, former president Hosni Mubarak was a squash enthusiast who gave the sport a huge boost in the 1990s.

Links with Hong Kong

Discussing what could be done to promote Egypt as an attractive destination, Abdelrahman said people in Hong Kong already had a good knowledge about the country’s biggest attractions – including the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is due to open later this year and will house over 100,000 artefacts. However, she said there was a lot more to see and discover, from textiles that promote local artisans to stunning beaches that are off the beaten track. 

In terms of business, she pointed out that Egypt was actively working to expand its green energy sector, which provided many opportunities for investment. With plenty of land, year-round sunshine and high wind speeds, it is a prime location for renewable energy projects. Egypt is also on its way to become a medical tourism hub. The sector is expected to enjoy steep growth in the next 10 years as part of the country’s diversification strategy.