Middle East & Africa | The sour milky way

Why Egypt isn’t open for business

Despite pro-business talk, the army grabs whatever it wants

|Cairo

EGYPTIANS OFTEN complain that their country produces little of value. Juhayna, the country’s largest dairy and juice maker, has been a notable exception. Its red and blue cartons are a staple in Egyptian homes. Its milk and yogurt are sold across the Middle East and Africa. It is one of the most valuable companies on Cairo’s stock exchange and a darling of foreign investors. In most countries it would be considered a national champion. But under Egypt’s military rulers it has faced a Mafia-style shakedown. Its fate illustrates the flaws of the Egyptian economy.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Sour milky way”

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