Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, attended the closing ceremony of the first annual Green Growth and Job Opportunities Conference, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The event, held under the theme “Enhancing Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” is part of Egypt’s ongoing national efforts to support green economy initiatives, foster youth-led sustainable entrepreneurship, and enhance partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.
The conference, which took place with over 200 attendees, featured Alessandro Fracassetti, Resident Representative of UNDP in Egypt; Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation (who joined via a recorded video message); Ambassador Hamdy Shaban, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Development Cooperation; Dr. Ali Abou Sena, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; and Frej Jackson, Charge d’Affaires at the Danish Embassy in Cairo.
The event brought together government representatives, international organizations, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and youth advocates, who engaged in robust discussions on actionable steps toward sustainability and green innovation. As part of the event, several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed with key partners to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), empower youth, and foster initiatives focused on sustainability.
Supporting Green Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship
During the ceremony, Sobhy presented financial awards to the winners of the Youth for Sustainability (Y4S) program, a youth-driven initiative focused on fostering innovative green projects. A total of five winning projects received financial support, totaling 500,000 Egyptian pounds, to help implement their green initiatives with a meaningful social impact.
In his speech, Dr. Sobhy emphasized that the event underscores the Ministry’s commitment to empowering youth by providing them with the skills and resources needed for entrepreneurship in sustainability-related fields. He also pointed out that this success is part of Egypt’s broader achievements at the COP27 Climate Summit, which highlighted the vital role of youth in driving sustainable development.
Building Collaboration for Green Growth
The conference also witnessed the official launch of Egypt’s National Green Action Team, which aims to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, policymakers, and private sector representatives. This team will focus on advancing Egypt’s green growth agenda by encouraging sustainable business practices and innovations. Additionally, a digital learning platform empowers young people to actively participate as ambassadors of green growth, providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead sustainability efforts.
On the other hand, Fracassetti commended the Green Growth and Job Opportunities program, emphasizing its pivotal role in creating green jobs for youth and encouraging SMEs to adopt sustainable practices. He also highlighted that the launch of the National Green Action Team and the digital learning platform were key steps in supporting young entrepreneurs and translating their green ideas into scalable, innovative solutions.
Honoring Sustainability Ambassadors
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing young sustainability ambassadors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in implementing sustainable initiatives. Sobhy reaffirmed the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to empowering youth, underscoring their role as the leaders of tomorrow in the green transformation.
