The Housing and Development Bank (HDB) and the Ministry of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs held a meeting to discuss potential cooperation on the ministry’s initiatives and programmes.
The meeting was attended by Soha Gendi, Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, and Gehan Hafez, General Manager of Social Responsibility at HDB.
Gendi presented presidential initiatives, such as the “Survival Boats” initiative, which aims to curb illegal immigration. She said that the ministry is launching a major campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal immigration and to provide alternative opportunities in Egypt in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
She added, “We are working with civil society organizations and institutions to serve our people in the governorates that have the highest rates of illegal immigration. These include Sonaa El Kheir, Raie Misr, and Misr Bela Marad (Egypt without Illnesses), as well as the National Council for Women, the Ministry of Housing, and the Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA).”
Hafez stated that HDB is committed to supporting the villages that need assistance and are located in remote areas, in collaboration with civil society organizations and institutions, as part of its social responsibility towards society.
Hafez also stressed the bank’s focus on social responsibility and sustainable development, to create equal opportunities and achieve justice and equality for all. She expressed the readiness of the Social Responsibility Department at the bank to cooperate with the ministry on the training for employment programme, and to create alternative opportunities for youth in villages and hamlets to protect them from illegal immigration.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Emigration welcomed the cooperation with Hafez and HDB. The two parties agreed to coordinate with the Ministry of Emigration and the Social Responsibility Department at HDB, to develop a common framework to establish fruitful cooperation.
