Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Somaya El-Ahdal met with MSMEDA CEO Bassel Rahmy to discuss expanding support for small businesses and entrepreneurship, aligning efforts on a unified work plan for the coming phase.
Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Somaya El-Ahdal met with Bassel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), to discuss ways to expand support for small businesses and entrepreneurship while aligning on a unified work plan ahead.
The meeting emphasised enhancing coordination to maximise the developmental impact of MSMEDA’s programmes in line with national priorities. Both sides highlighted the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector’s role in job creation—especially for youth and women—export growth, and Egypt’s shift to a green economy.
El-Ahdal reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to backing MSMEDA through its international cooperation portfolio, which mobilises development financing with bilateral and multilateral partners. She stated these efforts channel funding to projects yielding clear economic and social benefits. Directives from Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty prioritise support for productive sectors such as industry and agriculture, recognising MSMEs’ importance in bolstering local manufacturing and value chains. El-Ahdal stressed ongoing support for MSMEDA initiatives to integrate businesses into the formal economy, promote sustainability, and broaden access to investment incentives.
Rahmy noted MSMEDA’s close collaboration with the ministry’s international cooperation team to implement directives from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who chairs the agency’s board. These aim to build a supportive ecosystem for SMEs, improve financing access, and help entrepreneurs scale operations and create jobs. He underscored aligning with international programmes to accelerate informal sector formalisation, boost SME exports, and open regional and global markets. Rahmy also pointed to efforts securing grants for community development and infrastructure, preparing underserved areas for MSME growth and curbing irregular migration through labour-intensive jobs. He praised the ministry’s role in forging partnerships that build confidence in Egypt’s SME sector and advance inclusive growth.