Egypt’s National Council for Women (NCW) Chairperson , Aml Ammar, participated in the 15th African Women Entrepreneurs and Economic Empowerment Conference, organized by the African Business Council.
Gratitude and Praise for the African Business Council
Ammar opened her speech by expressing gratitude to the African Business Council for its remarkable success in organizing this conference for 15 consecutive editions. She praised the event for being the largest gathering of women in Africa, providing a valuable opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange.
Egypt’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment
Ammar emphasized that the empowerment of African women holds significant importance for Egypt’s political leadership. She quoted President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s words from the 2019 Aswan Forum, stating, “Our vision for Africa cannot be complete without giving women and youth their rightful place.”
Economic Empowerment as Key to Development
Ammar stressed that empowering women economically is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063. Economic empowerment reduces poverty, improves family life, and increases access to education , healthcare, and property ownership, while fostering diversity across sectors.
Training African Women for Economic Empowerment
Ammar shared that the NCW, in partnership with the Egyptian Agency for Partnership Development, launched a project to train African women in economic empowerment. This initiative, which began during Egypt’s presidency of the African Union, provides training in various areas, including rural women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. The project also includes field visits to Egyptian workshops to showcase the NCW’s efforts.
Supporting Policies for Women’s Economic Participation in Egypt
Ammar highlighted several policies Egypt has implemented to support women’s economic participation, including the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030. This strategy, approved by President El-Sisi in 2017, outlines the government’s efforts to prioritize economic empowerment for women. Egypt has also launched initiatives to bridge the gender gap in the economy.
Recognitions and Initiatives for Egyptian Women
Ammar noted that Egypt is the second country globally to receive awards for gender equality in governmental institutions, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme. The NCW has also been involved in several development programs, including the “Decent Life” initiative and the National Family Development Program, which aim to provide income-generating opportunities for women in rural areas.
Financial Inclusion and Empowerment Programs
Ammar emphasized the NCW’s efforts to promote financial inclusion for women in partnership with the Central Bank of Egypt. The “Tahwisha” digital savings application has helped more than 2 million women in 14 governorates improve their financial inclusion.
Intellectual Property and Cultural Preservation
The NCW has also worked to preserve cultural heritage through initiatives like the launch of the first collective trademark for women in the Sohag Governorate. Additionally, the NCW participates in the “Smart Green Projects” initiative, which includes a component focused on women’s empowerment.
Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment in Africa
Ammar concluded by urging African countries to increase efforts to open new economic opportunities for women. She called for policies that encourage women to start their own businesses and expand business development services targeted at women. She also stressed the importance of creating industries that can provide direct and indirect employment for women.
Chairperson of the National Council for Women (NCW), Aml Ammar,
