AUC Press Publishes “A Daring Enterprise,” Unveiling A Successful Model For US-Egypt Economic Partnership

Cairo, July 14, 2026 - The American University in Cairo Press (AUC Press) published A Daring Enterprise: A US-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power, a new book that tells the story of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF) and examines how an innovative partnership between the United States and Egypt helped support private sector growth and job creation in the years following the 2011 revolution. Written by James A. Harmon, Cornelius Queen, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mark Warren, the book offers a behind-the-scenes account of one of the most successful yet least known U.S. foreign assistance initiatives in the Middle East. 

Drawing on the firsthand experiences of Harmon, chairman of the EAEF, the book chronicles how the congressionally funded $300 million investment vehicle partnered with Egyptian stakeholders to invest in promising companies, support entrepreneurship, and contribute to the creation of nearly 70,000 jobs while nearly doubling its original investment. 

At a time when America’s budget deficit is rising and traditional foreign assistance faces pushback, A Daring Enterprise presents a model that successfully bridges strategic investment and long-term development goals. Furthermore, the book highlights the enduring importance of Egyptian American partnerships and the vital role of economic collaboration in promoting shared prosperity. 

“We are pleased to publish A Daring Enterprise with AUC, a beacon of higher education in the Arab world and probably the most enduring symbol of the U.S.-Egypt relationship,” said James Harmon, chairman of EAEF. 

Thomas Willshire, executive director of AUC Press and Bookstores, noted that the book reflects AUC's longstanding role in fostering connections between Egypt and the United States. “The AUC Press supports the University’s mission by publishing important works from and about Egypt and the region,” said Willshire. "We are pleased to publish a narrative that moves beyond traditional aid to highlight the power of partnership and celebrate the tangible impact of collaboration between Egypt and the United States.”

James A. Harmon is chairman of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund and former chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States during the Clinton administration. Cornelius Queen is senior vice president of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund and previously worked on humanitarian and congressional initiatives related to the Middle East. Mark Warren worked as an editor at Esquire Magazine for twenty-eight years, twenty of those years as Executive Editor. He received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing.

The book has already earned significant praise from prominent global figures. Robert B. Zoellick, former president of the World Bank, U.S. trade representative, and deputy secretary of state, praises the book for showing "how an American innovation in private sector development in Egypt really worked." He adds that the partnership between "Egyptian talent" and "U.S. financial creativity" achieved far more than financial returns, new businesses, and job creation, producing instead "a practical partnership that changed lives and ideas about development enterprises."

David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post, describes it as "an amazing story" and "a vivid account of the good America can do in the world if we're faithful to our values."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton describes the book as "a real American success story" and highlights it as "a proven, bipartisan model" for international development partnerships.

A Daring Enterprise: A US-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power is available worldwide, including in Egypt, on Amazon, and on the AUC Press website.