Naguib Sawiris is not a man of empty words; two weeks ago, the Egyptian billionaire offered a plan to help ease the pressure of Migrants thronging into European nations. He tweeted that Greece or Italy should sell him Islands on which he will provide temporary shelter for the migrants.
At the time, it seemed like a “crazy idea” and a mere attention seeking tweet from a billionaire. But no, it is more than just a tweet, and it is certainly not a crazy idea. “It’s not a ridiculous idea. And I’m not known to adopt ridiculous ideas. It’s a very simple idea,” the billionaire said in a phone interview. He pointed out that both Greece and Italy have financial issues and uninhabited Islands, “and already, the fleeing refugees are in Greece and Italy; so it is a very simple solution. They sell the Islands to me, I’ll make a temporary shelter for these people.”
Greece or Italy sell me an island,ill call its independence and host the migrants and provide jobs for them building their new country
— Naguib Sawiris (@NaguibSawiris) September 1, 2015
Crazy idea .. Maybe but at least temporary until they can return to their countries ??!!
— Naguib Sawiris (@NaguibSawiris) September 1, 2015
Yesterday, the billionaire tweeted a statement saying he had identified two privately owned Islands in Greece, and is currently in negotiations with the owners. “We have corresponded with the owners and expressed our interest to go into negotiations with them,” it reads. The statement also reveals that the UN’s refugee agency UNHCR has shown interest to cooperate on the project -#aylanIsland – which is estimated to require $100 million (90 million euros) capital.
After massive interest to contribute through donations&volunteering I’m sharing latest updates #aylanISLAND project. pic.twitter.com/FNNkbWinSA
— Naguib Sawiris (@NaguibSawiris) September 14, 2015
All the billionaire needs now is permission. Sawiris has called on the media to help get his message across to the prime ministers of Greece and Italy, “Give me the Islands, and I’ll do the rest. Give me the permission to put this people there, I’ll do the rest.” Hopefully, both prime ministers will respond in the affirmative.
Naguib Sawiris, is the Executive Chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E. (OTMT), and also Chairman of the Board of Weather Investments parent company. He is the third richest man in Egypt, and 54th richest man in the world, with a net worth of $2.9 billion.
