Our friends at public policy firm Moharram & Partners have been tapped as one of the vice-chairs of the US-Egypt Business Council (USEBC) according to a statement (pdf). Bechtel, BP, and PepsiCo are also vice-chairs on the council, which is chaired by oil producer Apache. Moharram & Partners, founded by Moustafa Moharram (who also acts as CEO), specializes “in all aspects of political/policy risk analysis, public policy, government relations, and strategic corporate communications in the Middle East and Africa.” Moharram said the firm aims to drive “stronger trade and foreign direct investment relationships between our two nations.” In the same statement, USEBC Executive Director Steve Lutes noted that M&P is a “platinum sponsor of the USEBC centennial celebration.”

What’s USEBC? Founded in 1979 by President Anwar Sadat and and US President Jimmy Carter, the USEBC calls itself “​​the leading advocacy organization representing America’s top companies doing business in Egypt.”