In a bold reaffirmation of Egypt’s commitment to inclusive economic development, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) announced the activation of its full suite of financial and non-financial services to empower women across diverse economic sectors. The agency has successfully directed over EGP 17.4 billion to women-led projects across Egypt’s governorates and rural communities over the past decade, creating approximately 1.2 million job opportunities through nearly 900,000 micro and small enterprises owned by women.
The announcement was made by Basil Rahmy, CEO of MSMEDA, during the “Women in MLE” conference, an event dedicated to promoting female entrepreneurship and organized by the CEO Women Business Club under the patronage of MSMEDA. The conference brought together diplomats, private sector leaders, financial institutions, and a distinguished group of women business leaders and innovators.
A Strategic Agenda for Women’s Economic Inclusion
Rahmy underscored MSMEDA’s dedication to collaborating with civil society, private institutions, and development partners to advance the economic empowerment of Egyptian women. “We are committed to supporting women in launching and scaling up small and medium enterprises across industrial and service sectors,” he said. “Our goal is to build a generation of empowered female entrepreneurs and enhance their contribution to the national economy.”
He emphasized that MSMEDA’s participation in such forums serves as a platform to exchange knowledge and best practices with other stakeholders supporting women’s entrepreneurship. This aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy under Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, both of which prioritize gender-inclusive economic growth.
Deepening women’s participation in economic life
A notable highlight of MSMEDA’s efforts has been its focus on underserved and remote areas, with 54% of the agency’s women-directed funding—approximately EGP 9.4 billion—channeled to Upper Egypt, border governorates, and regions most in need of development services. Rahmy confirmed that MSMEDA is working to double these investments in the coming years, in line with government directives to deepen women’s participation in economic life.
MSMEDA is also leveraging digital transformation to enhance service delivery across the country. Its digital platforms are streamlining access to financing, training, and advisory services—particularly for women and youth in rural and remote communities.
Building Partnerships for Long-Term Empowerment
The event also featured remarks from Mona Mourad, founder and CEO of CEO Women Business Club, who reaffirmed her organization’s mission to equip Egyptian women with the skills and networks needed to lead medium and large-scale enterprises. Mourad highlighted the Club’s partnership with the American University in Cairo’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Alcatel-Lucent, pointing to a growing synergy between academia and the private sector in supporting women-led growth and digital transformation.
Praising MSMEDA’s pivotal role, Mourad described the agency as “a national cornerstone in advancing women’s capacities across economic domains, through sustained support for productive and sustainable projects.” She emphasized the importance of integrating efforts across government, international institutions, and the private sector to foster a robust, female-led entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Honoring Trailblazers
During the event, Rahmy honored several standout women entrepreneurs whose ventures have thrived with MSMEDA’s backing. Among them were:
- Yasmin El-Souifi, founder of a successful restaurant chain in Cairo
- Mona Sami, creator of interactive and educational toys
- Sherine Saleh, developer of a medical and cosmetic supplies manufacturing enterprise
These women, Rahmy noted, are “living proof of how targeted support, combined with vision and perseverance, can create transformative impact—not just for the individual, but for entire communities.”
