The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) has directed EGP 15.2 billion towards financing more than 865,000 micro and small enterprises established by women in the past nine years. This figure represents 45% of MSMEDA’s total funding for micro and small businesses during this period.
MSMEDA CEO, Basel Rahmi, emphasized MSMEDA’s commitment to implementing government initiatives aimed at economically and socially empowering women. This focus aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives prioritizing women’s role in national development.
The CEO highlighted that Upper Egypt governorates received over EGP 8 billion of the allocated funds. MSMEDA actively supports women-led businesses in various productive sectors, focusing on rural areas, Upper Egypt, and border governorates.
MSMEDA’s strategy extends beyond financial backing. The agency provides technical support and training programs to equip women and girls with the skills to launch new ventures, expand existing ones, or enter the workforce. This focus on skill development empowers women to pursue self-employment opportunities.
“We partner with various state agencies to fulfill the leadership’s directives. Our goal is to create a new generation of Egyptian businesswomen by fostering an environment conducive to establishing successful and profitable businesses that provide sustainable job opportunities,” Rahmi explained.
MSMEDA offers a comprehensive range of financial and non-financial support services for women entrepreneurs, from initial concept development to project implementation. This includes training programs, participation in local and international exhibitions, marketing assistance through partnerships with major commercial chains, and facilitating registration as small suppliers for government entities. Over 40,000 women and girls have benefitted from MSMEDA’s entrepreneurship training programs. Women entrepreneurs actively participate in exhibitions, with participation rates reaching 51% in local events and 39% in foreign ones. Additionally, they have secured 30% of the marketing services provided by MSMEDA and secured registration as small suppliers with government agencies.
Rahmi reiterated the state’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment as a key driver of sustainable development. MSMEDA’s programs encourage women to leverage their skills and establish thriving micro and small enterprises that contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
