Minister El Said Highlights Qalaa Foundation's Role in Education and Development

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala El Said, participated recently in the 18th annual ceremony of the Qalaa Scholarships Foundation. The event was attended by Dr. Ghada Wali, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Dr. Ahmed Heikal, founder and chairman of Qalaa Holdings; Hisham El-Khazindar, co-founder and managing director of the company; Ghada Hamouda, Head of Sustainability and Marketing Sector at the company; Ambassador Hussein El-Khazindar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation; and Yasmin El-Dorghamy, Executive Director of the Foundation, along with several prominent public figures and members of the Board of Trustees of the Qalaa Scholarships Foundation.

During her speech, El Said expressed her pride in the Qalaa Scholarships Foundation as a leading company in energy and infrastructure investments in Egypt and Africa. She affirmed that the Foundation serves as a model for corporate social responsibility and supports Egypt's talented youth in pursuing their academic careers, including obtaining master's and doctoral degrees from prestigious international universities.

El Said emphasized the importance of the private sector's role in social responsibility, highlighting its significant added value, especially when focusing on critical areas such as education and investing in human futures. She extended gratitude to the Foundation for its continued educational grants, which are provided through a variety of criteria, including selecting modern specializations that meet societal needs and ensuring geographic diversity to achieve equitable opportunities for young recipients of these scholarships, while also promoting gender diversity.

El Said clarified that the state's plans are implemented through partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to achieve desired development goals. She underscored that today's event exemplifies practical implementation of Egypt's Vision 2030, emphasizing collaboration among the government, private sector, and civil society.

Regarding future plans, El Said highlighted that the upcoming fiscal year aims to allocate over 42% of government investments for human development (health and education) for the first time. She noted an increase in classroom density in some governorates, underscoring the importance of public-private and civil society partnerships in addressing such issues.

El Said also referenced the structural reform plan launched by the state, focusing on several axes, including enhancing labor market efficiency and aligning it with educational outcomes to meet dynamic and evolving job demands. Therefore, efforts are underway to increase the proportion of technical and vocational education from 45% to 65% to meet diverse development needs.

El Said congratulated the graduates who received Qalaa Foundation scholarships, noting that despite current global challenges, the Foundation continues its mission, emphasizing a commitment to providing excellent education. She emphasized that continuous education and training are tools that provide greater opportunities for choice.