Meeza cards to replace all gov’t payroll cards by the end of January: Around 4.3 mn public sector workers will be receiving their salaries via Meeza debit cards by the end of the month, according to a FinMin statement. The ministry had previously hoped to complete the rollout by the end of 2021.

Background: The government began rolling out Meeza cards in 2019 and trialed their use to pay salaries in August. Employees can receive a 30% salary advance at no charge for card purchases made in the first six months of using the card.

Other things we’re keeping an eye on this morning:

• The Industrial Development Authority will tender five industrial complexes for SMEs after the World Youth Forum this week.
• Dana Gas collections from Egypt rose 141% y-o-y to USD 193 mn in 2021, the company said (pdf) last week, after a payment of USD 48 mn in December reduced our arrears to their lowest levels since the company began operating here in 2007. The company initially said in December that it collected USD 184 mn from Egypt in 2021.
• Ismailia murderer handed death sentence: The Ismailia criminal court has sentenced to death the man who beheaded another man on the streets of the city last year in November.