Onsi Sawiris (also written Sawires, Coptic: ⲁⲛⲥⲓ ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ, Arabic: أنسي ساويرس; born August 14, 1930) is an Egyptian businessman. He was estimated to be worth approximately $1.2 billion according to Forbes in 2017.[1] He is the patriarchal head of the Sawiris family. Sawiris is a member of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority
In his early business career, he was disenchanted with the socialist government of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. He was prevented from leaving the country for six years in the 1960s.[2] After a spell in Libya, he returned to Egypt during the more business-friendly regime of the following Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat. He and his three sons, all educated in Europe and the United States, resumed their activities in Egypt over the past three decades under the government of Hosni Mubarak and its liberal business policies.
He founded the Orascom conglomerate, whose various construction, telecommunications and tourism, science and technology and industry companies are run by his three sons, Naguib Sawiris, Nassef Sawiris, Samih Sawiris. Orascom is involved in tourism development, telecommunications, construction and other fields.
See also
- Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E.
- Orascom Construction Industries (OCI)
- Orascom Hotels and Development (OHD)
References
- ^ Onsi Sawiris – Forbes Forbes. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ Tryhorn, Chris (February 2, 2010). "The Sawiris family: from entrepreneurs to media owners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 12, 2017.