Arab Finance: Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi has appointed Amr Ismail El-Sharkawy as Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA), replacing Yasser Ramadan, who will head the ministry’s Central Administration for Geological Research and Information.

The leadership reshuffle also includes the appointment of Ahmed Saad Fattouh as Vice Chairman for Mining Industries and Ehab Anwar Hassan as Vice Chairman for Mineral Resources.

Badawi said the appointments form part of the ministry’s strategy to develop the mining sector by introducing new leadership and drawing on specialized expertise to accelerate ongoing reforms and development initiatives.

The minister expressed confidence in El-Sharkawy’s ability to build on the authority’s progress, citing his professional experience in various positions in Egypt and abroad.

He also called on the new Chairman to work closely with MRMIA’s leadership and employees to advance the government’s objectives of maximizing the utilization of mineral resources, increasing their added value, and attracting more domestic and international investment to the sector.

The reshuffle follows a period of institutional transformation under Ramadan, during which MRMIA transitioned into an independent economic authority.

Badawi commended Ramadan for overseeing this transition and helping establish the institutional, legislative, and procedural foundations needed to support the authority’s new structure despite the challenges involved.

He also highlighted Ramadan’s efforts to improve operational performance and introduce initiatives aimed at strengthening the mining investment framework and bringing it into line with international best practices.

The minister credited Ramadan’s collaboration with the authority’s employees for helping prepare the sector for its next phase of development and expressed confidence that his accumulated expertise would continue to benefit the ministry in his new position.

Alongside the leadership changes, Badawi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to developing MRMIA’s workforce, describing human capital as a fundamental component of successful institutional reform.

He stressed that the ministry would continue investing in employee training, improving professional capabilities, and enhancing working conditions to ensure personnel are equipped to meet the sector’s evolving requirements.