Charlie Rose

sharin  02/03/2011 03:05 PM Report

Mr. Sawiris is happy to say there is little corruption with regards to business in the Mubarak regime. This is not true. Mr. Sawiris benefited enormously from government fraud. In fact, he received the first cell phone license in Egypt by bribing the government. I know this because my father's company was best equipped and slatted for the license that went to Sawiris on account of his bribe.

cevatahmed  02/03/2011 02:37 AM Report

meraba benim ismim Djervat ve ben bir musluman olarak bulgaristanda yasiyorum ve Egipete yasayan butun kadeslerinize sabir diliyorum ve bir an bu zor durumdan kurtulmalarini diliyurum benim bir sorum var butun Duya liderlerine neden insanlara ayrim yapiyorlar musuman ve hristyan olarak bu dunya hepimizin ortak yasayabiliriz biz bu ayrimcilik yuzunden dunyanin sonunu getiriyoruz bu super ulkelr super bombalar yratacana neden bu dunya uzerinde Aclik sorununu cozmezler neden bazi insanlar cok zengin oluyorlar bu bencek adi bir dunya deyildir

cevatahmed  02/03/2011 02:37 AM Report

meraba benim ismim Djervat ve ben bir musluman olarak bulgaristanda yasiyorum ve Egipete yasayan butun kadeslerinize sabir diliyorum ve bir an bu zor durumdan kurtulmalarini diliyurum benim bir sorum var butun Duya liderlerine neden insanlara ayrim yapiyorlar musuman ve hristyan olarak bu dunya hepimizin ortak yasayabiliriz biz bu ayrimcilik yuzunden dunyanin sonunu getiriyoruz bu super ulkelr super bombalar yratacana neden bu dunya uzerinde Aclik sorununu cozmezler neden bazi insanlar cok zengin oluyorlar bu bencek adi bir dunya deyildir

AbuSous2000  02/02/2011 09:17 PM Report

I just heard this guys almost 3 yrs ago on this show saying that the Egyptian dictator was a reasonable person. Three days ago on a BBC Business interview, he said that Mubarak is a dictator and must go. You be the judge

wakeup  06/01/2010 11:07 AM Report

Come on people, this man is a lyier...He keeps manipulating medias and Egypt in order to make more and more money. Don't trust him!

http://naguibsawiris.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/moralpygmy/

Ester malak  10/30/2008 06:13 PM Report

What a great confident man you are!!!!!

You are a very Knowledgable man at all different aspects of life not just your career.I think it would be great to spread your knowledge, beleive and attitiudes to create another objective generation with open-minded like yourself.

Mr. Sawiris you made me go on cloud nine by listenning to this conversation. well done, keep it up .We support you because you deserve it.

Ester Malak Soliman

ahmed gemei  10/27/2008 04:42 PM Report

naguib god bless you and save you wish you all the best you are giving me hope that i can do something to egypt and not to leave it keep it up and good luck

sam  10/26/2008 03:42 PM Report

The United Nations needs a man/person like this at the top....He is well respected and well connected; he is fair, open, honest, forthright and knowledgeable both politically and economically.

adel stephanos  10/26/2008 02:13 PM Report

GOD Bless you Naguib.your are the MAN

Ghada's Uncle

Rania Abd El Hak  10/22/2008 04:28 AM Report

I am speechless, people like you make me proud being an Egyptian.

Sam  10/17/2008 07:36 PM Report

Wow... what an amazing individual.

Isn't it sad that the Egyptian law does not allow a guy like Sawiris cannot run for presidency?

ahmed  10/17/2008 07:25 AM Report

I respect Mr. Sawiris and his family very much. I am an Egyptian, Muslim and do not feel any threat in anyway in saying that this is the only Egyptian family that was able to move from the local to the international standards of business in a very short period of time. We are definitly proud of them and we wish to see others moving in too...i do have my concerns regarding some of his political views, yet I share with him the same feeling regarding secularism and the need for a state that represents all of its people with exact equal rights the way it was when Islam started 14 centuries ago. Yet I know that the current generation will not be able to acheive the same level of tolerance and acceptance of the others the way the initial community led by the prophet did, because of the fanaticism that has invaded the minds opressing the true essence of religion and creating the current status. I belive that sooner or later a regime built on equality to all, muslims, christians, jews and non believers will emerge with an Islamic twist due to the nature of Egypt.

Under this rule of righteous law everybody will be happy. But the time for this has not yet come..Egypt will have to go through lots of ups and downs until it reaches its final destination and its final system...In the mean time people like Naguib are a true blessing..

DANIAL  10/15/2008 02:08 PM Report

GOD BLESS YOU SAWIRIS

Ayoub Mahmoud Ayoub  10/14/2008 04:19 AM Report

Distinguished, pragmatic persons like Mr. Sawiris should be in the helm. But the "people" should move to make dreams real.

I have no doubt that Egypt deserves far more than what she gets and the dawn is not far from our eyes and hearts.

Mr. Amal Gendi  10/06/2008 02:01 PM Report

Beloved Mr. Sawiris,

Praise God for you and for your role to restore the Egyptian economy that has been lost for decates. Please allow me to shed a quick light on a question addressed to you during this great interview; the question was;'What do you fear the most?' I think it was addressed at the 26th minuts (Between 25th to 27th minutes). Your answer moved me to write this quick note. You mentioned that the destiney-because it is unknown- is the most fearing you. Being a Christian Egyptian, I can assure you what the Bible teaches us on destiney. In the Gospel of John Chapter 5:24-30 Jesus Christ Himself talks about the destiney as He says:'Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life ...'. Also John 11:25-26;Jesus said:'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live'

God bless you all.

Amal(Mr.)Gendi-Canada 416-300-2625

hala  09/28/2008 08:30 AM Report

It is my honor to be in his family.

He really is an amazing business man.

The whole family has worked so hard to make Egypt a better place. Thank you.

Karim Naggar  09/23/2008 06:51 AM Report

Great interview by one of the few great business men in Egypt.God bless him.I wish we had a few more of his kind in my country.Egypt would not be in the same condition it finds itself today.

His optimism gives us hope that we will prevail and that Egypt will conquer its fears and its threats.

Haguer Adly  09/18/2008 06:21 AM Report

I really appreciate this great man , and i hope that every egyptian love his contry like him, with a group of gentelmen like him we can make great achievements to be respected all over the world god bless him, i wish that orbit can repeat his interviw with amr adib as i concider it is a good lesson to our next generations

Hussein Gohar  09/17/2008 01:01 PM Report

He is the best candidate to become the Egyptian president. I only wish he is allowed!

Mamdouh Mansour  09/15/2008 07:27 AM Report

Thanks Charlie and Naguib for such interesting discussion.

My only comment to add is that we have to be fair to solve 90% of our Global problems.

Terrorism: America has to be fair in dealing with the Israeli-Palestenian conflict as solving this conflict fairly will eliminate the only excuse for terrorism to flourish among the party which was treated unfairly.

Economy : China has to be fair in dealing with others for investing in China.

Democracy in emerging markets:Rulers have to be fair to their citizens giving them the right to choose.

Corruption:every one has to abide by the rule,so nobody will be above the law.

Social Problems: treat others in the way you like to be treated.

Nader  09/13/2008 03:43 PM Report

Great interview

markey  09/13/2008 09:51 AM Report

Mr. Sawiris is known to me personally and I have met him on many business and social occasions. There was nothing earth shattering about his comments and he had to choose his words very carefully as he is not immune.

I also know his father, mother and brothers. They are an Egyptian hardworking family and in particular Mr. Onsy Sawiris the father and Mrs. Sawiris the mother are part of the foundations set in the family and they did it the old fashion way (hard working, dedication and good family values). I recently ran into the father in Paris airport and was on a flight to Cairo with him and asked the question how did he accomplish his goals and how does he manage the three son's? and he it is the family ethics, value system and self respect amongst other things. Congratulations to this hard working accomplished family and there are many of them in Egypt. It is completely outrageous that some of the persons comments have partly centered on religion.

Naguib is direct, no BS and can be brutal if crossed but at the same time he is a person that can level with you and he is not afraid to mend strained situations and admit his mistakes and moves on.

I wish them all the best.

Carima  09/12/2008 04:15 PM Report

Having lived in Egypt for 5 years with plans to retire there, I have to say this is the best representation of Egyptian culture I have seen or heard. He speaks many truths and minces no words in expressing these truths. Bravo! Thank you Charlie Rose for bringing this intelligent, warm and wonderful man to the American public at large. The world needs more of his kind.

Hony  09/12/2008 04:15 PM Report

Mr. Sawiris interview was honest..he reflected many views of the Egyptian..in every aspect..specially in politics..I liked it..

Sam Adler  09/09/2008 12:24 AM Report

This interview was brought along by a friend. I am most grateful and delighted by all said and the comments given.

We sure look forward for an encore.

Thank you Mr. Charlie Rose.

Mohsen Azzam  09/08/2008 06:44 PM Report

Regarding the Comment by Satomi on Tuesday, Jul 22 at 06:00 AM """most Christians in Egypt are highly educated and are very open minded to all cultures from the west, Asia, Israel. They have a different mind set to Muslims"" I think its not fair to mention that.and I would like to ask you do you know Dr.Ahmed Ziwil and Dr.Mohammed El baradey???????????? if you know them I will inform you about thousands of highly educated and very open minded with the same level and may be higher.

TABS  09/08/2008 06:47 AM Report

Let us not just applaud Mr Sawiris with these comments, but move the discussion to some specific illustrations of where American misinterpretations and ignorance of the motives of other peoples has cost America dearly. This is more of a learn from your mistakes awareness about your own predilections, so that we are not doomed to repeat the same mistakes again.

In 1919 Ho Chi Minh attended the Versailles Peace Treaty negotiations in France. Ho along with the Arabs among others, were there to promote recognition and freedom from colonial rule for their peoples. His role model was Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. Their efforts were for naught. In 1940 France fell to the Germans and as a result the Japanese occupied French In-do China. After WW2 the US supported French claims to their former colony in return for French support against the Soviets in Europe. The US with regards to Ho Chi Minh saw him as being "red" and failed to see that he was a nationalist first and a "commie rat" second. As such Uncle Ho had no choice but to ally himself with the only other hedge against American power, the Soviets. This misinterpretation eventually led to the US involvement in Vietnam with its unfortunate consequences.

In 1898 the US started a "glorious little war" that ran Spain out of Cuba and the Philippines. The US soon instituted a banana republic style government in Cuba which for the next 50 years did the bidding of US corporations and increasingly organized crime. To relieve Cuba of the corruption of US influence, Castro had no choice but to rid Cuba of American influence. To that end the only power that could countervail US power was the Soviets. Again this misinterpretation of nationalism for communism led to the Bay of Pigs and near Armageddon of the Cuban Missile crisis.

For centuries the Russians have coveted Persian (Iranian) territory and tensions have existed between the two. In 1954, in fear of a Democratically elected government in Tehran turning "red," the US instituted a coup that installed the Shan of Iran. For the next 20 odd years the Americans influenced Iranian national affairs. The only real political opposition to the Shan was the religious faction of the Ayatollah Khomeini. The only way that the Iranians could take back their country from the meddling of the Americans was by kicking them out of the country and instituting a radical Islamic state. Thus the state of affairs that exists today.

The conclusion that can be made about Iran is that Iran is deathly afraid of American economic and military power being able to meddle in her affairs. To maintain an independent state of affairs, Iran has to be opposed to American influence and power in the region. As an act of survival Iran has to destabilize American efforts in the region so that America is not able to consolidate her power, which they fear will then be turned against Tehran. . That in turn makes Tehran appear to Washington as a "rogue state."

However the caveat that must be taken into account with regards to Iran, is that the government is an Islamic theocracy that in of itself is diametrically opposed to western liberal democracy.

Ramy Raymond  09/07/2008 06:49 PM Report

Great interview. Thank you. I was surprised when Mr. Sawiris said that the only thing that he feared was "destiny", which is not a

Christian principle. You might like to ask him what he meant by that when you interview him next. You might also like to ask him how he deals with the needs for "bribery" to get things working in the countries he is operating in, starting from Egypt...

Thanks again.

Carlo  09/07/2008 09:44 AM Report

I am trying to show Mr. Sawiris a new, patented, desalination technology which I believe he will be interested in. Does anyone know what email to use?

Rachel H.  09/03/2008 01:42 PM Report

Mr. Sawiris is Egyptian but is a global businessman; he transcends borders. And he is Christian but his success is accounted for by his overall open-minded faith; his religion is irrelevant (and the argument "Christian vs Muslim" brings us back to the Dark Ages). His telecom business is what it is today because of his education, vision and intelligence.(Rachel H. - Geneva, Switzerland)

Mohsen Azzam  08/11/2008 09:13 AM Report

Thanks to Mr. Rose for giving the chance for all Americans and European People to know the right and the real side of the most Arabic people !!Really I'm proud that their a lot of esteemed and Honorable Egyptians and Arabic Business men like Mr.Sawiers

Satomi  07/22/2008 06:00 AM Report

He is Christian Orthodox, most Christians in Egypt are highly educated and are very open minded to all cultures from the west, Asia, Israel. They have a different mind set to muslims and they contribute a lot to the Egyptian Economy and stock exchange listings in Egypt, there is no petrodollars coming from there such as in Dubai etc.

Allan Ramesh  07/11/2008 06:40 PM Report

This inteview shows the breadth of opinions found in the Middle East. People there are not all fundamentalists fighting against the US. Particularly refreshing was his comment that the Iranians are "beautiful people". I concur. Hence, in dealing with the people of this region, we need to be aware that "you're either with us or against us" approach just does not work. There is complexity worth appreciating which must be integrated into any actions we pursue.

AmelN  07/08/2008 11:32 PM Report

I was very disappointed, yet not entirely surprised by the distance that Mr Sawaris has with his own society and the world in general. First there was the approximation about the world population 4 to 6 billions,then came wrong historical facts regarding the British colonization of North Africa(France colonized most of North Africa at the exception of Libya)which only occurred in Mr Sawaris' mind. Condoning the dictatorship of President Moubarak was also pretty astonishing, especially after unleashing on the Chinese regime. Even India doesn't escape his wrath. Not any successful businessman has the stature and the charisma and the vision of Mr Bill Gates. I would love to see Mr Sawaris actually put his words into action. Egypt is waiting.

Sam Verma  07/07/2008 04:43 PM Report

This was an interesting interview. He spoke his mind about most places apart from his own country. He tiptoed around the issue of Mubarak (calling him a pragmatist etc), making sure he doesnt get lynched when he goes back home! That aside, it was an interesting exchange of thoughts.

Doris Chavez  07/07/2008 04:41 PM Report

Your interview with Mr. Hagib Sawiris was truly engrossing and I hope it won't be your last interview with this interesting gentleman!

George W. Bush  07/07/2008 02:03 PM Report

Keep up the good work. Sawiris is smart and knows how to get things done. Wish I had his smarts.

Nancy P.  07/07/2008 10:28 AM Report

I really enjoyed the conversation with Mr. Sawiris. Very interesting leader. Thank you Charlie

Anthony   07/07/2008 02:01 AM Report

That was by far one of the most interesting conversatoins I've ever heard and agreed and understood everything that he was saying. Bravo to Charlie by far one of the best talk shows. I really can't call it that it's head and shoulders above the rest besides inside the actors studio. To bad theyre not on PBS also I am now able to also donate to PBS'S great programing. Keep up the great work Charlie. Anthony J Seeley 74seeley youtube 4th july in Americas bread basket Saukville Wi. God Bless America

BABPP  07/06/2008 05:43 PM Report

Long, long time viewer Charlie...Besides Tim Russert, you are the only 'newsman' worth watching! And Mr. Sawiris is one of the few leaders in this world worth listening to. Let's get him to move to America while we still have a country of our own!

My spirits are bouyed by reading the comments here...there may be hope for us yet!

Keep up the good work and take good care of your health! God Bless.

Carole Mayo  07/05/2008 12:11 PM Report

A terrific interview. I truly respect the lack of cynicism in Mr. Sawiris' interview. I wish there were more leaders in this world with his approach, and his ability to communicate.

Amir ElFar  07/05/2008 12:09 PM Report

Great job Charlie, I enjoyed this show very much. Mr Sawiris is an impressive personality and he is a great role model. He is also one of those speakers that speak their minds regardless of the audience, his candid attitude and very insightful demeanor makes him a fascinating guest. As a Coptic “Egyptian Christian” I could relate to Mr Sawiris in most of what he is saying, he makes us all proud. I really liked the part when he spoke about America and how he thinks that America is the best country in the world; by the way he says the same thing in front of the very tough America hating Arab media. I forwarded the link to all my friends I wish you can have him and people like him more often.

Thanks again

Charlie from Manila  07/05/2008 11:52 AM Report

I enjoyed listening to the wisdom of Mr. Sawaris. I admire his belief on religion and politics. I also believe about what he said on the American's failure to understand the culture of Iraq in closing the war. In our world today, understand one's culture is key to anything we do, internationally. Good interview. I hope to see Mr. Sawaris should i have the chance to visit Egypt.

SirScud  07/05/2008 12:03 AM Report

This is one of the most intriguing guests from North Africa I have listened to for some time. He seemed a little callous and aloof on the subject of the plight of the Palestinian people and other topics concerning the have-nots of the world. However, his world view and his approach to capitalism seemed genuinely moral and fair-minded, and not the greedy winner take all hedonism that so many of our CEO's seem to favor.

Roy Fassel  07/04/2008 10:42 PM Report

Mr. Abdel-Hamid: Here in America we have a fellow named Paul Harvey, who has a radio program that ends with "And here is the rest of the story.” Your reply is........... the rest of the story. I am a great fan of the Charlie Rose Show. I was fascinated with this particular guest, but much more so with the overwhelming response to the Sawiris interview. Your view is also prevalent in Egypt and the Middle East. As an American, I was quite careful stating that Sawiris’ views were prevalent with "established and successful business people" around the world. Sawiris was a breath of fresh air because we rarely hear from successful and well establish business people from the Middle East. We only hear from political pundits, academics and socialists. The Middle East history includes the Cold War and all countries ended up in either the Soviet camp or the Western (American) camp. The two visions were Communism and the controlled and planned economy versus democracy, capitalism and free markets. That battle continues. The Middle East and other parts of the world can still go back to the Soviet Model or join the Western Model. That history is not settled. Mr. Abdel-Hamid talks about the John Edward’s version of “Two Egypt’s.” Sawiris lives in one Egypt. Millions of others live in another Egypt. Mr. Sawairis seemed quite happy during his dialog with Charlie. He was also laughing at Charlie and America at times. Probably 80-90% of Charlie’s audience has a particular view on this November election. Sawairis has a completely different view. Sawairis would consider those voters as naïve. That is why he laughed when Charlie probed the election issue. He is a cool and calculating capitalist who can go into places like North Korea and cut deals that European and American corporations could not. Mr. Sawiris’ thinking and views are quite prevalent with established and successful business people all over the world. They love America. It’s the disenfranchised who hate America because America keepings propping up those repressive governments. George Bush removed the most repressive government in the region and most of the fan's of Sawiris despise Bush. Nothing good could happen in the Middle East without the removal of Hussein. And Sawiris laughs all the way to the bank. Fascinating.

TABS  07/04/2008 06:45 PM Report

Let us review a bit of modern Egyptian history from an admitedly western perspective......

It was as a young officer in the Egyptian army that Gamal Nassar plotted with the Germans (Hitler)in WW2 to overthrow British rule of Egypt. It was Nassar who emerged as ruler of Egypt after deposing King Farouk in 1952. It was Nassar who after increasing tensions with the British, nationalized the Suez canal in 1956, which led to the invasion by the British, French and Israelies. Only to be stopped and a deal brokered by the Americans under President Eisenhower. It was Nassar's Arab League that lost 2 wars to Israel each ending more diasterousily than the previous, and it was that league that always proved fractious. It was Nassar who embraced the USSR for economic (Ashwan Dam) and military aid (including Soviet Military bases on Egyptian soil).It was soon after the end of the 6 Day War in 1967 that Nassar passed away of a heart attack. His protege Sadat assumed power and in an interview stated that it was his being denied access to a Soviet military base on Egyptian soil that cause him to throw the USSR out of Egypt. That no one was going to deny the President of Egypt access to a military base on Egyptian soil and get away with it.

Mohamed Abdel-Hamid  07/04/2008 04:24 PM Report

Mr. Sawairis talks here on behave America and his bussiness, he does not talk on behave on Millions of egyptians who suffer under the brutal rule of Mobarak and before him Sadat. He of course attack the rule of Nasser who was and still after 30 years of his death is the most beloved ruler not in Egypt but the Arab world. He have gained a lot from the policy of Sadat and Mobarak and he made a lot of money, a lot of money. he is very clever bussiness man, but that is all. He loves American and Israel and hated Hamss and Iran, and he does not like the Egyptians moslem brotherhood. Of course that is why all the comments from your Ameicans viewers are very encouraging and positive. If The American believe what he has said, then I can sell Ice to the Canadians !!!! and sand to to the Arabs. He does not even express the views of millions of the coptics in Egypt who are more Egyptian than him.

You may take his views on the middle east and believe itthat will be your problem.

Mark  07/04/2008 03:24 PM Report

An interesting view of the world from someone outside the US. Very intelligent, insightful. I agree with most of the comments made by others here.

Roy Fassel  07/04/2008 01:19 PM Report

Naguib Sawiris is a Coptic Christian in a land of Muslims. That is why he is so "different." This religion is Orthodox and therefore different than European or American Christians. What was striking is when Sawiris said that America is the greatest country in the world. This probably surprised many viewers, but his view is the prevalent view of the established and successful business people around the world. Sawiris used the term “we” when talking about himself and America. He didn’t say so, but he laughed when it was brought out that American companies have some difficulty competing in some global economic situations. America is the major country which has laws against paying bribes to do business. In many countries of the world, one can not do business without paying bribes to the government people. These countries control the international community….....and the UN. What made this guest a breath of fresh air is that his views are quite common in his part of the world and in the rest of the world. But politics and the media always brings out the nonsense of blaming America, or recently, blaming Bush, for every conceivable problem in this world. He acknowledges that he was for the removable of Saddam Hussein. Nothing good could ever happen in that part of the world without having regime change in Iraq. He is a breath of fresh air because he sees the world as it is and not as he wants it to be. He would not be considered politically correct in American circles. He would be an outcast and disdained by many in the America media. This was one of Charlie’s most valued guests in a long time. He is a capitalist in a world of socialists. He learned the difference under Nasser. That is how one learns the difference.

Michael Shandrick  07/04/2008 01:16 PM Report

Men like Naguib Sawiris are paving the way for a new "silk route" across the globe, using edge of the wedge business practices to enrich customers and create new markets in Africa and Indonesia. He is very inspiring man who is alarmingly astute. He is a realist who is welcomed in places the US would never get into, including Cuba and North Korea, which McCain still wants to invade. Meanwhile, America still can't get New Orleans rebuilt and has to print money to stay in business.