The Rural and Environmental Industries Support and Rural Revival Fund, affiliated with Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity, is participating in the “Diarna” Handicrafts and Heritage Exhibition, held for the first time in South Sinai Governorate at the Heritage Village in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The participation comes within the fund’s mission to promote local production, strengthen sustainable rural development, and empower artisans and women entrepreneurs, particularly in marginalized communities. The fund, recently restructured, now serves as an integrated development platform linking financing, production, and marketing to advance Egypt’s inclusive economic growth agenda.
Promoting Sinai’s Women and Heritage Crafts
Through its participation, the fund seeks to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of Sinai’s women, whose products are known for their exceptional quality and cultural authenticity. The exhibition features a variety of traditional and contemporary handicrafts, including arabesque art, copper and glass works, home décor, fashion, and handmade accessories.
A Development Arm for Economic Empowerment
The report highlighted that the fund has been restructured to become the executive developmental arm of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, transitioning beneficiaries of the national cash support program ‘Takaful and Karama’ from dependency to economic empowerment.
The fund now plays a central role in connecting financial resources with production and market access, adopting a community-based approach that identifies local comparative advantages, addresses market gaps, and implements sustainable interventions that create real added value.
This integrated model supports low-income families in achieving sustainable livelihoods, reducing poverty, and improving living standards in alignment with Egypt’s “Decent Life” (Hayah Karima) initiative and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Heritage Meets Development
The “Diarna” Exhibition, one of Egypt’s oldest and most prestigious handicrafts fairs, serves as both a cultural celebration and a development platform — bridging heritage preservation with economic opportunity.
By promoting rural crafts and empowering women producers, the Rural and Environmental Industries Fund continues to transform traditional craftsmanship into engines of inclusive growth that celebrate Egypt’s heritage while driving local prosperity.
