Board of Directors Candidates 2024 - 2026

I currently serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at New Look Travel Company, a prominent player in the tourism and travel industry since 2006. My role involves overseeing strategic initiatives and driving growth within a dynamic sector.  I hold a PhD in Green Economy and Sustainable Development from Benha University, which has equipped me with a deep understanding of sustainable practices and their implementation in various industries. This academic background complements my practical experience and fuels my passion for advancing green tourism and sustainable development. From 2018 to 2023, I was a member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Federation of Tourism Chambers. This role allowed me to influence the tourism sector on a national level and work towards enhancing the overall industry standards and practices.

Additionally, I am a member of the Canadian-Egyptian Council, which has broadened my perspective on international cooperation and economic development.

I am eager to weight my expertise to enhance Egyptian-German cooperation, particularly in advancing the green economy and sustainable development within the tourism sector. My focus is on promoting green tourism and supporting the transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources. I am also committed to increasing the membership number of the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce by engaging more companies and factories, raising awareness of the Chamber’s objectives, advocating for their interests, and fostering twinning opportunities with German counterparts to boost investment.

Amir Nader Riad has significant experience in both German and Egyptian business environments. He started with a junior position at a major German consulting firm, which helped him understand German business practices. He then served as Strategic Business Development Manager and VP at a German-Egyptian company with operations in both countries, gaining insight into the challenges faced by companies operating cross-border.

As a board member of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, he has access to industry-specific committees, which aids in matchmaking and problem-solving for Egyptian companies. His role as a board member of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa) in Berlin further connects him with key Arab and German business leaders.

Given that Europe, particularly Germany, is a major trade partner for Egypt, Riad is interested in joining the AHK board to enhance bilateral business success. He advocates for continuing initiatives like door-to-door missions and events to support German companies in Egypt and vice versa. With a new €7 billion EU fund for Egypt, he believes AHK's support will be crucial for German companies entering the Egyptian market and aims to bridge the political gap between the two countries through business collaboration.

Amir Riad is highly involved in start-up activities, new investments & market expansion projects. He provides strategic leadership by working with all departments & the board to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans & policies. Leads & directs various departmental activities with interrelated activities of other departments for optimum efficiency & economy. Prior to beginning his current assignment in 2009, Amir was the Strategic Business Development & Operations Manager at Bavaria, and has held the post from 2003 to 2009. For the year before that, he worked at Rödle & Partner - consulting division in their offices in Germany, Czech Republic & China.

From 2018 to 2022, I had the honor of serving as Chairman of the AHK, following a notable tenure as CEO of Siemens from 2016 to 2020 and Managing Director of Siemens Energy from 2020 to 2022. Additionally, I was the Global Executive Chairman of Iskraemeco Group from March 2022 to October 2023.

My vision includes fostering Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Egypt and Germany, with a strong focus on enhancing the current AHK projects in critical sectors such as energy, transportation, and vocational training. I am dedicated to expanding the services provided to AHK members to better support their needs.

To strengthen the German Chamber's positioning in Egypt, I aim to focus on key sectors including energy, transportation, e-mobility, and manufacturing, thereby benefiting our members. I will also encourage more AHK member companies to explore opportunities within the German market.

To attract further German investment to Egypt, I propose conducting door-knocking missions 1-2 times annually. Additionally, I plan to increase the number of AHK members by 10% over the next two years.

With over 30 years of executive experience spanning various sectors, including information systems, manufacturing, exporting, and strategic planning, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any organization. His tenure at ELARABY has been particularly rewarding. There, he played a key role in fostering innovation and upholding the highest standards of quality.

Medhat has held several executive roles, including CEO of International Business at El Araby Group, where he oversees international trade and investment. He is also an Executive Board Member at El Araby Group and has served on the boards of the Japanese Business Association in Egypt and the Egyptian-Japanese Business Council. These positions have provided extensive experience in strategic planning, change management, and fostering international business relations.

Medhat is deeply committed to enhancing trade relations between Germany and the Arab world, particularly in industry and commerce. Serving on the board of GACIC offers an opportunity to leverage his expertise in international trade to further this mission. 

As an AHK Egypt Board member, he aims to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between Germany and Egypt. His goals include promoting sustainable economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing vocational education and training. He also intends to facilitate networking opportunities and support the development of policies that benefit both German and Egyptian businesses. By leveraging his experience, he would like to drive initiatives that align with GACIC's vision of being the first point of contact for foreign trade promotion.

Being the vice chairman of the Board of Directors of El Banna Group which has 12 companies across Egypt integrated together to serve 7 industries including Poultry and table eggs – Citrus Exports – Solar panels & Electricity distribution – Land Reclamation- Pharmaceutical Products – Paper Manufacturing. 

Let’s set the stage by highlighting that the equation of the real success is not that easy, however, the formula is a mixture of a distinguished vision, non-stoppable ambitious dreams and goals enhanced with continuous hardworking and directed by learning. 

Based on that in addition to Mr. Mohamed's previous study in GUC, he learnt how to serve in a different unique way to maximize results effectively and efficiently, besides, the opportunity to lead a great entity such as El Banna Group which deliver various products to customers to more than 80 countries allover the world. Therefore, I am a well expert about how to add value to industry and commerce cycles.

Having a concentrated business plan touching different aspects with a deep level of integration and analysis, will allow us to figure out main success pillars and focus on return to set our priority list with control points enhance with a relevant check list.

Generally speaking, sustainability is the backbone of the future so extra care is a must by covering 4 directions: Environment, Society, Quality and Governance including empowering people.

Undoubtedly, global partnership with key players in each industry will doubling opportunities of knocking the door of outstanding challenges towards fruitful future.

Spreading up core values the soul of one family with one goal to build a high-tech integrated business model which contributes in establishing a prosperous economy so we can accomplish multiplied times success.

Eng. Tarek ElGamal, has over 41 years of experience in contracting, real estate development, investment, and business at large. He adopted technologically advanced tools, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), as the Chairman of Redcon Group as early as 2009, because of his vision and belief in constant industry development.

Tarek ElGamal held several significant roles that are highly relevant to a board member position at the German Chamber. These include being a Board Member of the UN Global Compact – Egypt Network, a Board Member of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC), and the Vice Chairman of Chapter Zero Egypt – Egypt Chapter. Additionally, he served as the Co-Chair of the American Chamber Real Estate Core Committee and a Board Member of FIABCI Egypt. His experience also includes being a Board Member at MOT Investments & Projects Co. (M.O.T.), a Founding Ex-board Member of Administrative Capital for Urban Developments Co., and a member of the AUC Construction Engineering Department Industrial Advisory Board. He is involved with the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Chamber of Commerce, and has been an Ex-board Member of both the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the Federation of Construction & Building Contractors. Moreover, he is a member of EBA and EJB.

His objectives for joining the German Chamber include facilitating bilateral trade and business ties between Egypt and Germany through enhanced networking and expanded connections. He aims to cooperate on reducing the carbon footprint across industries, particularly in construction, which accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions. He seeks to advocate for open markets, the free flow of goods, services, and capital, and to train local companies on EU market standards to boost exports to the EU.

He plans to customize and optimize the Chamber’s services to increase resources and effectiveness. This includes creating and enforcing the roles of Sectorial Standalone Committees and subcommittees, such as those for Real Estate & Construction, ICT (with a focus on innovations like Redcon’s pre-construction and virtual construction simulation), Transports and Logistics, and Customs & Taxation. Additionally, he proposes separating the Sustainability Committee from the Energy Committee and connecting it with other committees to focus on greening industries, creating a CSR sub-committee under Sustainability, and establishing a task force with Marketing.

Furthermore, he intends to collaborate with UN bodies, donors, and funding institutes to facilitate access to green finance.

Reham Fouda, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Ethmar Green: Pioneering Success in the Egyptian Agriculture Industry

Reham Fouda, a Certified Life Coach from the International Coach Federation, has dedicated her career to helping individuals achieve higher levels of success in their professional lives. With a focus on empowering others, Reham pursued specialized certifications in gender intelligence, along with diplomas in Business Coaching, Certified Career Coaching, and Certified Extended DISC Profiling.

Throughout her professional journey, Reham Fouda has made a significant impact as a woman in business. As the Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Ethmar Green, she played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a startup into a prominent player in the Egyptian agriculture industry. Ethmar Green, renowned for its premium date products, has grown exponentially under Reham's guidance. From semi-dried dates to chocolate-covered nut-filled dates, flavorful spreads, date syrup, date biscuits, and a variety of protein bars, Ethmar Green offers a diverse range of health-boosting date merchandise.

Reham's influence as a woman in business is noteworthy. She actively promotes gender equality and inclusivity within Ethmar Green and the wider community. More than 50 percent of the company's employees are women, and Reham ensures that they have ample opportunities for skill development and career growth. She collaborates with local women's organizations to support and empower women in the community, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities for all. Ethmar Green's success is not only attributed to its premium products but also to its commitment to ethical business practices and sustainable initiatives.

Reham Fouda's journey as a Certified Life and business Coach, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to business growth, has positioned her as an influential figure in the Egyptian agriculture industry. Through her remarkable achievements as the Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Ethmar Green, she continues to inspire and empower individuals, while making a significant contribution to the agricultural landscape of Egypt.

As an AHK Egypt Board member, my goals are to enhance bilateral trade by identifying and promoting key areas of collaboration between German and Egyptian businesses. I aim to bolster support for SMEs through tailored programs and expand networking opportunities to foster new partnerships. Leveraging my experience with GIZ and the Import Promotion Desk, I will focus on streamlining processes and addressing barriers to drive sustainable growth and innovation. My objective is to create actionable strategies that benefit both markets, strengthen economic ties, and facilitate impactful collaboration between Germany and Egypt.

With over 25 years of experience, I am proud of my extensive involvement in creating, managing, and shaping official, governmental, and public service structures, alongside my private business career. My primary fields of focus include medical trading, the medical industry, education, and charity, both in Egypt and Germany. These areas continue to thrive and contribute actively to Egypt's business environment, each with its own distinct vision and mission. I am interested in serving the board in ways where I cxan review and update the AHK business plan to cope with current and future development and changes in both countries.

My Goal during the terms is to achieve the following:

• Decrease Business and culture gap between Egyptian and German
• Open participation gate for Entrepreneurs and young candidates through incubators and educational programs
• Establishing accelerator center with bilateral business and educational institutes
• Increase promotion of chamber business activities to create new resources for implementation of new business plan
• Expand stakeholders' channels and strength the existed

Hany AbdRaboh's career is a testament to strategic leadership and financial expertise. Graduating in 1997 with a degree in accounting from the Faculty of Commerce (English Section) at Ain Shams University. He began his career at CIB Bank, where he worked for two years, before moving to an electromechanical contracting company for another two years. His journey then led him to Degussa, a German company that was later acquired by BASF in July 2006. Completing his MBA in 2007, Hany was named CFO of BASF's group companies in Egypt in 2010 and elevated to Managing Director in 2019. His leadership facilitated key initiatives, including the acquisition of Nunhem Seeds and the divestiture of the construction chemicals division. In 2020, Hany expanded his role to oversee functions across HR, Corporate Communications, Supply Chain, and more, driving sustainable growth and strategic developments within the company. times annually.

In his career progression, he has held several strategic roles that align well with board responsibilities. As CFO of BASF's group companies in Egypt, he spearheaded financial strategies and oversight, preparing him for high-level fiscal management. As Managing Director of BASF Egypt LLC, he led the company through significant transformations, including key acquisitions and divestitures, underscoring his capability in corporate governance and strategic decision-making. These experiences have honed his abilities in leadership, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable business practices, making him well-suited for a board member position.

Hany Abdrabo’s interest in serving on the board of the German-Arab Chamber of Industry & Commerce stems from his extensive experience with BASF, a German company, and his deep understanding of the Egyptian market. Having navigated significant business transformations and fostered international collaborations, he is eager to leverage his expertise to enhance German-Arab economic relations. His background in finance and strategic leadership equips him to contribute effectively to the Chamber’s goals of promoting trade, investment, and mutual understanding between Germany and Arab nations, driving sustainable growth and development in these vibrant markets.

During his term as an AHK Egypt Board member, he aims to broaden the presence of AHK to support both German and Egyptian companies, increase German company investments in Egypt, and encourage more foreign direct investments (FDI) in the country. His focus will be on strengthening economic ties and facilitating investment opportunities that benefit both nations. These efforts will contribute to a thriving business ecosystem and bolster the economic development of Egypt while reinforcing the strategic partnership between Germany and Egypt.

Over the past two years, I have served as a board member at the AHK. Additionally, I have held leadership roles in several Fortune 100 companies across various industries in the Middle East and Europe. My experience includes a deep understanding of the Egyptian market and its unique dynamics, as well as the broader MENA region, which is known for its volatility and high potential.

I am deeply interested in serving on the board of the German-Arab Chamber of Industry & Commerce because I believe in the significant potential for economic collaboration and growth between Germany and Egypt. My extensive experience across the Middle East and Europe has provided me with a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges within these markets. I am passionate about fostering stronger business ties, promoting sustainable development, and facilitating knowledge exchange between these 2 countries. Serving on the board would allow me to contribute to these goals and support the Chamber’s mission of enhancing bilateral trade and investment.

During this term I would like to

• Strengthen the economic ties between Egypt and Germany 
• Facilitating knowledge exchange and cultural understanding between the two countries, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship.
• Promote business in Egypt and push for innovative solutions to accelerate and facilitate German and European investments in Egypt

Mohammed is responsible for the company’s in-country presence and growth strategy, including sales, marketing, and operations in Egypt. Mohammed will drive SAP Egypt’s growth plan and lead global education & training platforms to expand Egypt’s digital ecosystem and workforce.

With more than 20 years of IT & Telecom industries experience and a successful leadership track record in international Sales and Business Development across the Middle East and Africa, Mohammed is well positioned to lead our Egypt business. In his prior role, he was SAP Head of Energy & Utilities Industry for the UAE, Mohammed was awarded the UAE Gold Visa by the Dubai Government for leading the growth of the business for the Industry in the region.  Before this, he was the SAP Regional Head of the Telecom Industry leading the account management, sales, and business development for all Telco’s in KSA, UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt.

Mohammed has a Master of Business Administration from the SBS Swiss Business School in Zurich, Switzerland.

He is passionate about fostering stronger economic ties between Germany and Egypt. Serving on the board allows him to leverage his experience in international business to promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities. He aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and support SMEs in navigating market challenges. By contributing strategic insights. In addition to this Mohammed would like to strengthen the economic and cultural bonds between Germany and Egypt.

His goals are to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Germany and Egypt and foster innovation through strategic partnerships. Facilitate knowledge transfer particularly in technology and digital transformation. Support Egyptian SMEs in overcoming market entry barriers and navigating regulatory landscapes. By prioritizing mutual growth and collaboration, he aspires to strengthen the economic and cultural ties between our nations, creating a robust foundation for future endeavors.

Recently appointed as the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Egypt, Stefanie Volz, currently Head of eMobility & Sustainability Own Retail Germany, will take over the role as Head of Marketing & Sales MBC Egypt & CEO Mercedes-Benz Egypt, effective October 1, 2024. 

Stefanie began her career in 2012 with the Daimler CAReer Program at Mercedes-Benz Own Retail. She gained valuable experience in Customer Service at several branches, including MPC Germany and UK. In 2016, she was appointed Customer Service Manager for the Stuttgart Leonberg branch, later transitioning to Schwäbisch Gmünd, where she successfully led the workshop and body shop operations.

From 2019 to 2021, Stefanie served as Head of Product, Process, and Business Development in Customer Service at Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation in Japan.

Since 2021, she has been successfully leading the eMobility and Sustainability Department at Own Retail Germany, focusing on initiatives such as charging infrastructure, the business development of Mercedes-Benz Rent, and transitioning Own Retail Germany to CO2 neutrality.

Mrs. Volz is eager to contribute to the enhancement of the German-Egyptian business community. She derive great satisfaction from fostering professional dialogue between business and politics, and from promoting the success of German-Egyptian companies. Serving on the board of the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GACIC), the largest organization for business cooperation between Germany and the Arab world, aligns with her vision of driving mutual growth and understanding.

As a member of the AHK Egypt Board, I aim to enhance the German-Egyptian business ecosystem by fostering strategic partnerships and facilitating knowledge exchange. I plan to leverage my extensive experience to support initiatives that drive economic growth, particularly in the automotive, electric mobility and sustainability sectors. I am committed to promoting sustainable development in alignment with the Egypt Vision 2030 and increasing awareness of successful business ventures in Egypt. My goal is to create a robust network that benefits both German and Egyptian businesses, ensuring a prosperous and collaborative future.

Yusef Ahmed is an expert in internationalization, strategic partnerships, business development, and sustainable projects.

He is the Founding Partner, FIC Frankfurt International, Frankfurt. Established and leads an international consulting firm and multi-family office, specializing in international business development and strategic partnerships between Germany, Egypt, and the Gulf Region. Also provides family office services for selected Arab ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs).

He is the founding partner, TOUR DE COP, Dubai, UAE. Created a UNDP-endorsed cycling initiative aimed at raising environmental awareness and inspiring the next generation. Organizes annual events leading up to United Nations Conferences (COP), including previous editions from the German International University (GIU) in Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh ahead of COP27, from the German University in Muscat (GUtech) to Dubai ahead of COP28, and this year’s tour from the German International School in Tbilisi (TGIS) to Baku ahead of COP29. Played a key role in fostering Arab-German business relations.

Mr. Yusef held several BOD positions of which are:

• AHK German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Cairo (2021 – 2022)
• GHORFA Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Berlin (2015 – 2018)
• Al Jumooh Investments, Muscat (2014 – 2023)
• Gulf Baader Capital Markets, Muscat (2008 – 2011)

He was also the regional director of AIM Congress in Dubai where he directed operations for German-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking countries and Central Asia, managing international business development and strategic partnerships.

In his early life, Mr. Yusef was the advisor to the CEO of Baader Bank, Strategic Alliances and International Business Development. He advised the CEO on strategic alliances, proprietary investments, and international business development with a focus on the Arab World.

Finally Mr. Yusef held various Positions at Deutsche Bank, included roles in Wealth Management, Private Banking, and Corporate Banking.