Minister of Planning and Economic Development witnesses the closing ceremony of the Women in International Trade Project in Egypt (SheTrades Egypt)

H.E. Dr. Hala El_Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, witnessed the closing ceremony of the (SheTrades Egypt) Project.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of Eng. Hani Sonbol - CEO of ITFC & Acting CEO of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Ms. Elena Panova - UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Ms. Lilia Nass - Head of the Middle East and North Africa Office to the International Trade Center.
At the beginning of her speech at the celebration, Dr. Hala El-Said emphasized that the (SheTrades Egypt) project, which was launched in 2020, embodies an exceptional model for distinguished partnerships under the umbrella of the Aid for Trade Initiative for Arab Countries (EFTIAS).
El-Said added that the celebration we are witnessing today is not only a celebration of the achievements of the Women in International Trade Project in Egypt but rather a tribute and the culmination of a successful and extended process of joint work over many decades between Egypt and the Islamic Development Bank Group, which contributed to the financing of hundreds of projects covering various areas of development.
 Egypt is also proud of the distinguished development partnership with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, which has so far resulted in a portfolio of cooperation between Egypt and the Corporation amounting to about $16 billion since the establishment of the Corporation in 2008 until September 2022, according to El-Said.
El-Said thanked all the partner parties on both sides, which have been engaged in continuous cooperation and coordination and providing support in all its forms. 
El-Said emphasized that the Women in International Trade Project in Egypt represents a bright meeting point with the state's development orientation, which gives priority to all aspects of the Egyptian state's vision and its various development programs to empower women politically, economically, and socially.
This project produced outputs that contributed to supporting small and medium-sized companies owned by Egyptian women in the handicraft sector to integrate into local and global value chains and reach wider markets. Through the project, 35 women-owned small and medium-sized companies were rehabilitated.
 El-Said referred to the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside, the "Decent Life" initiative, and its role in improving the living conditions of Egyptian women, which is the largest development project implemented by the Egyptian state in its history, both in terms of funding allocations of nearly one trillion pounds.
El-Said talked about the national project for the development of the Egyptian family, which was launched by the state in March 2022, to improve the quality of life of the citizen and the family in general, and at the heart of it is improving the conditions of women, who represent the mainstay of the family in particular.
 In March 2022, the Egyptian state also launched the "Government Excellence Award for Equal Opportunities and Empowering Women", as a special category of institutional excellence, in the implementation of the mandates of H.E. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in the Egyptian Women's Celebration 2022.
The launch of this category of the award comes in appreciation of the role of women in society. It also increases their chances of getting government jobs. Thus, this award comes in line with the national strategy for women’s empowerment, and in light of the implementation of the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030.
For his part, Eng. Hani Sonbol stressed that the Arab Republic of Egypt is one of the most significant partners of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.
Sonbol indicated that since its establishment in 2008, the Corporation has provided funds that exceed $ 14 billion. In addition, the Corporation signed five framework agreements for the benefit of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
These funds contributed to supporting the food and energy security of the Arab Republic of Egypt. In addition, they supported the development of medium and small enterprises. This was done within the framework of the institution's integrated business solutions methodology and in recognition of the importance of trade to economic development.