Onsi Sawiris

Who is Onsi Sawiris?

Onsi Sawiris is an Egyptian businessman. He was estimated to be worth approximately $2 billion according to Forbes in 2013. He is the patriarchal head of the Sawiris Family. The name Sawiris is alleged to be the Arabic/Coptic equivalent for the Latin/Roman Severus, but such connection was rejected by Sawiris himself.

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. 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 with full force 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.

Famous Quotes:

• “I don’t interfere with my sons’ business decisions, but if my opinion is sought out, I will tell them what I think. They don’t always listen to what I have to say, though,”