Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Ambassador Soha Gendi, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, and Mr. Ahmed El-Sheikh, Executive Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), participated in the international events of International Women’s Day by opening the trading session at EGX on Monday, March 4th, 2024.
EGX’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ahmed El-Sheikh, recently recognized and appreciated several active female professionals and leaders at EGX for their dedication and hard work. He also honored several distinguished women from the Ataa Al-Samaa Association, which cooperated with EGX through its community arm, EGX Exchange Foundation for Sustainable Development.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, praised the development in financial market legislation that allows more highly qualified women to hold leadership positions on the boards of EGX-listed firms. She also highlighted that the EGX Vice Chairman is a woman. The minister emphasized that the Egyptian government, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is committed to launching strategies, initiatives, and social programs that support women and empower them economically and socially.
The Ministry of International Cooperation works within the National Strategy for Women’s Empowerment 2030 framework. Their goal is to collaborate with international financial institutions to create initiatives, projects and programs that will help bridge the gender gap and empower women socially and economically.
These efforts focus on improving access to finance, increasing financial inclusion, and implementing programs such as the Economic and Social Empowerment Program in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the “Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator”, the Women’s Economic Participation Project in partnership with the IFC, and the “Women in Business Initiative” in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). These programs aim to contribute to women’s empowerment.
The role of women in raising, educating, and supporting their families cannot be overstated. This is made evident by initiatives such as “Survival Boats” and “Decent Life,” which invest in training women to reduce illegal emigration. The Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration, and Reintegration (EGC) has also been working to train and qualify both male and female youth, while collaborating with international institutions to provide employment training.
Additionally, an Egyptian Emigration Center has been established, serving as an umbrella for various institutions concerned with emigration and development. This center will provide training and employment opportunities for women both inside and outside Egypt.
The Minister emphasized that women’s empowerment is a top priority for the Ministry’s strategy. She highlighted her work and negotiations on behalf of 135 countries to establish the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), which she is proud of throughout her professional career. The Minister affirmed that Egyptian women are role models, excelling in their work and caring for their families, achieving personal and family success simultaneously. She further noted the efforts of the Women’s Empowerment Unit in the ministry, which provides exceptional support to women and bridges the gender gap. The Minister also mentioned that approximately 45% of the workforce in the Ministry of Emigration are women, which confirms the empowerment of women based on their expertise and skills.
