Hesham Saad, Investment Director at Silk Invest lives and works in Cairo. A few days ago, he shared his thoughts with us:
For several decades, most of us in Egypt lived in the belief that change was not possible; it was simply not a realistic expectation to have. Today, it seems we can believe that everything is possible. It is a feeling that takes some getting used to.
The decision making process within the three inter-twined pillars of power had become a disheartening routine that was monopolized by a dated system and was always strongly influenced by outside forces. You didn’t even think about it and just accepted the way things were and you ran along with it in order facilitate yourself and your family with a good life.
Now, all of a sudden, the authorities are starting to speak the tongue of the people and it almost sounds like another language. The juridical authority will be driven by the rules of justice while the executive authority will work at the service of the people they represent. Could it really be true that we will have a real democracy? It is hard to believe and it may just be a dream, but somehow all elements are in place for it to become a reality.
The last few days were very surreal. The large and eternal city that I often described as the one of the safest places to visitors from abroad suddenly became a confusing scene of anarchy, taking down all the rules and there was an assertiveness I never could have imagined possible. It was both exiting and terrifying and we all have wounds and anguish left over from this sudden reality of insecurity. Things still don’t feel entirely safe today but I have the feeling that I am not alone in believing that we are seeing a much better tomorrow ahead.
I believe it is truly possible because what I have witnessed during the past few days raises my faith in the people of Egypt and that they will take very good care of this great opportunity. I am not referring to the scenes of crowded streets filled with brave and determined protestors that you all saw on television, no, I am referring to actions that inspire one to have faith that leaving the destiny of this nations destiny in the hands of Egyptians will work out very well.
Let me give you an example out of so many stories that unfolded across this enormous city. After having looted a large shopping mall amidst the chaos, the thieves stored their big catch away in Boulaq, a very poor district in the city. Amidst the anarchy due to the sudden absence of police forces, the poor people of the neighbourhood did something extraordinary. They robbed the thieves and instead of keeping the goods to themselves, they moved the stolen merchandise into a mosque, set up a guard to keep it all safe and announced on TV that the legitimate owners of the goods could safely come and reclaim their goods.
In my opinion, they acted this way simply because of the fact that they are good people that, despite their hardship, still find the strength to believe in a better tomorrow. They have clearly demonstrated that they can be trusted to assist in creating a promising future.
However, we are not entirely there yet. From my Facebook account, I can see that those who triggered the revolt now wish that things would have unfolded more peacefully. In the end, that was their idea in the first place. They had not expected for things to get out of hand and to cause so much material damage. The opposition stills seems fragmented and we need to see if they can form a coherent and unified alternative, otherwise they risk not being able to hearts of the voters in the next elections.
From an economic perspective, risks are still abundant but so are the opportunities. As I already mentioned earlier, I can believe that the bulk of Egyptians will be able to take this opportunity for change seriously with a clear conviction that, in the end, they will be the beneficiaries of a new order now that they can drive into place.
Egypt is a very important country within this region, the media will always try to turn the events into a sensational spectacle but in the end there are many stakeholders around the world that want Egypt to be fine. This is a great opportunity for my country and we all need to stay focused.
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