The award will be formally presented on Thursday night by Italian Ambassador to Egypt Agostino Palese, during an official ceremony at his Cairo residence.
The honour acknowledges Sawiris’ longstanding contributions to advancing economic, industrial, and social cooperation between the two countries, alongside his broader efforts in fostering international partnerships.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Sawiris described the recognition as a “great honour,” highlighting Italy’s enduring partnership with Egypt across several domains, and expressing his pride in having contributed, in his own way, to strengthening ties between the two countries.
He emphasized that further opportunities remain to deepen collaboration, particularly in investment, culture, and shared development priorities.
For his part, Ambassador Palese noted that the award reflects Sawiris’ sustained commitment to strengthening Italian-Egyptian ties. He pointed to Sawiris’ investments in Italy’s telecommunications and digital sectors, as well as his previous role as co-chair of the Italian-Egyptian Business Council, as key contributions to enhancing bilateral cooperation and promoting innovation and economic growth.
Sawiris is no stranger to international accolades. In 2011, he received the Star of Italian Solidarity for his leadership in spearheading major Egyptian investments in Italy and contributing to the Italian economy.
His global recognitions also include France’s prestigious Légion d’Honneur, where he rose from Officer to Commander rank, as well as Pakistan’s Sistara-e-Quaid-e-Azam, awarded in 2006 for his impact on telecommunications and development.
In 2021, Sawiris was also granted an honourary Doctorate of Law from Handong Global University in South Korea.
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