Basil Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), announced that the agency has allocated EGP 17.4bn in funding for women-led projects between July 2014 and December 2024. This financing has supported approximately 908,000 small and micro enterprises, representing 45% of the total projects funded by the agency. The initiative, driven by political leadership, has been executed under the directives of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who also chairs the agency’s board.
Rahmy highlighted that this funding has generated around 1.2 million job opportunities over the period, in addition to 18.7 million workdays created through community development projects. He noted that 30% of MSMEDA’s marketing services during this time were directed toward women’s businesses, while nearly 49,000 women received training to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.
Emphasizing MSMEDA’s commitment to women’s economic and social empowerment, Rahmy stated that fostering female entrepreneurship is a key pillar of the agency’s strategy. The goal is to support women in establishing stable, productive, and scalable businesses that enhance their livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Rahmy reiterated that MSMEDA’s strategy is centered on creating a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. This includes providing diverse financial services and specialized programs, both directly through the agency and in collaboration with other state institutions, to help women start and expand their businesses while receiving the necessary technical and administrative support to ensure long-term success.
MSMEDA also offers professional and vocational training programs free of charge to equip women with the skills needed for self-employment and business development. The agency places a strong focus on supporting women’s production and craft clusters, particularly in rural and underserved areas, including border provinces and Upper Egypt, where economic development is most needed.
Beyond financial support, MSMEDA plays an active role in corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at empowering women. These include awareness and health campaigns in rural communities, literacy programs to facilitate workforce participation, and entrepreneurship training. Additionally, the agency helps women market their products by providing e-marketing services, professional product photography, and facilitating their participation in exhibitions. Women accounted for 55% of participants in local trade fairs organized by MSMEDA and its partners.
Rahmy reaffirmed that MSMEDA will continue to support women entrepreneurs in collaboration with various state institutions. He encouraged women and young girls to visit MSMEDA branches across Egypt to explore the range of services available and take advantage of the agency’s comprehensive support programs.
