Cairo: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) is actively pursuing its international and Arab partnerships, initiated through the “Heritage” exhibition last December. The event was held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and inaugurated by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Authority. The exhibition featured participation from eight Arab and foreign countries, along with 31 entities, including ministries, international organizations, universities, and both governmental and non-governmental institutions.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Basil Rahmi, a key figure within SMEDA, has reaffirmed the authority’s dedication to forging agreements and initiatives that bolster Egypt’s small project sector. The focus is particularly on productive and heritage projects, in collaboration with international and Arab entities and guided by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation. This effort seeks to facil
itate partnerships with Arab and international institutions interested in the small and medium enterprises sector, with the aim of promoting the export of Egyptian youth products abroad and enabling project owners to participate in Arab events that prepare them for export.
In a recent meeting with Ms. Hiba Ahmed, General Director of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), Rahmi continued discussions on the ongoing cooperation between SMEDA and the fund. The ISFD had previously sponsored the “Heritage” exhibition and launched several initiatives to support the development and export readiness of Egyptian products. The collaboration also includes joint projects to support youth and women in entrepreneurship and innovation in Egypt, along with the transfer of expertise to various countries in the Islamic world.
The ISFD, an institution under the Islamic Development Bank established in 2007, aims to alleviate poverty and boost economic and social development in the member states of the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation. Its initiatives encompass education, health, women’s empowerment, small project support, and infrastructure development.
Rahmi emphasized the critical nature of the collaboration with ISFD, highlighting its focus on enhancing living standards across Arab countries by providing project support, job opportunities, and technical and marketing assistance. This partnership also aims to facilitate the exchange of successful experiences among Arab countries, which can be instrumental in industrial localization and investing in human capital by supporting youth-led productive projects.
Additionally, Rahmi engaged in discussions with Dr. Hashem Hussein, Director of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Bahrain. Accompanied by Dr. Raft Abbas, Deputy Executive President of SMEDA, the meeting explored avenues for opening export markets for Egyptian products, particularly handicrafts and heritage items, in Arab and Islamic coun
tries. They focused on building connections, preparing action plans, and developing marketing strategies for exports, as well as offering financial and administrative guidance in partnership with the Small Enterprises Development Authority.