Basil Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), said that the agency has provided EGP 2.1 billion in funding for women's projects in 2024, through which 43,000 small and micro projects were financed, representing 501% of the projects funded by the agency during this year. Women's participation in internal exhibitions reached 571%, and they benefited from e-marketing activities at a rate of 831%, which included various activities, including awareness-raising, training courses, and participation in major electronic platforms.
Rahmi affirmed in a statement issued today, Sunday, that the Authority continues to provide various forms of support to women to encourage them to start new small projects or expand their existing ones. He explained that thousands of women have successfully benefited from the Authority's financial and technical services to establish their projects in various production and heritage sectors, which has had a significant impact in providing job opportunities for them and for the workers in their projects.
He added that with the end of March, which marked International Women's Day and Egyptian Women's Day, the agency is working to encourage women to establish new, non-traditional projects that will gain traction and popularity in local and global markets. This is done by offering more non-financial services that help them develop their skills, whether through training or shopping assistance, whether through participating in exhibitions, via major online platforms, or through e-marketing.
For their part, small business owners praised their cooperation with the MSMEDA, which provides a wide range of technical and financial services. These services have played a significant role in encouraging them to enter the field of self-employment and subsequently stabilize their projects, as well as enhancing their capabilities in developing these projects and marketing their products.
Asmaa Mohamed El-Sayed Bakr, owner of a factory specializing in the production of industrial gases from Suez Governorate, said that the financial support provided by the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) has contributed to the development and expansion of her project and the creation of new job opportunities.
She explained that she benefited from the non-financial services provided by the agency, such as specialized training courses, which helped her develop her administrative and marketing skills.
From Sohag, Samah El-Faqih says she went to the governorate's branch of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency and received the "Start Your Business" training. She then obtained funding, as well as several training courses in e-marketing and export requirements.
Over time, Samah was able to become one of the most important designers of Talli, and also work as a trainer for the women of her village, teaching them and training them in this unique traditional craft. She now has a workshop for manufacturing Talli and has more than 100 workers working in this craft.
In Cairo, Simone Maher recently started her own project, manufacturing glass objects and gifts. “I received funding from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, which helped me purchase a modern laser engraving machine,” she says. “I also took a training course on e-marketing, which I benefited greatly from.”
She added: “I intend to obtain additional funding from the Authority in the coming period, based on the project’s needs and market demand.”
Shorouk Hashem graduated from the Faculty of Engineering in Giza Governorate. She is a visual artist with special needs and is considered a “dot art” artist, which is a method of drawing by coloring pottery.
Shorouk says, "The Enterprise Development Agency is one of the leading entities in supporting small businesses in general and people with disabilities in particular. Thanks to the agency's support, particularly in facilitating procedures and paperwork, I finally succeeded in participating in various exhibitions to showcase my products."
