Blinken everywhere: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meetings with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry kept the talking heads busy last night.

State Department Arabic Spokesperson (and Cairo veteran) Sam Werberg made the rounds last night, managing to squeeze in interviews with no less than eight local and regional channels to discuss the Blinken visit. Egypt plays a pivotal role in de-escalating tensions between Palestinians and Israelis and in resolving other regional crises, including in Libya and Sudan and regarding the GERD dispute, Werberg told Masa’a DMC (watch, runtime: 5:30). Blinken’s visit also got coverage from Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 9:35) and Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 8:02).

Some are hopeful for forthcoming US support on GERD: Blinken’s statements on GERD took into consideration the vital importance of Egypt’s water security interests, political analyst and writer Emil Amin told Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 4:40). “This gives a positive indicator that there might be a move by the US in the coming days to realize the rights [of involved parties],” Amin said. “Washington can act if it wants as a guarantor power to an agreement that achieves the interests of all,” he said.

Privatization plans also got a look in: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly reiterated that empowering the private sector and attracting foreign investors is a top priority for the government, in a speech during CI Capital’s annual MENA investor conference. Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 7:42) and Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime: 5:49) took note.

Now is the time for IPOs: The time is now suitable to offer new companies on the EGX given growing appetite from investors, CI Capital Chairman Mahmoud Attalla told Kelma Akhira (watch, runtime: 9:16.) Madbouly said earlier this week that the government will announce in two weeks the details of the state-owned firms it plans to offer on the EGX this year, as the state looks to reboot its privatization program.