Egypt and Al Ghurair Foundation Discuss Boosting Youth Entrepreneurship

Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Egypt's Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Head of the Technical Secretariat for the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, recently met with a delegation from the UAE's Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation. The delegation included Mona Ghandour, the Foundation's Senior Vice President for Partnerships, and Dana Dajani, Senior Vice President for External and Institutional Communications, who joined via video conference. Several ministry leaders also attended the meeting. The main goal was to explore ways they could work together to boost innovation and support initiatives that empower young people. This aligns perfectly with Egypt's top priority of enhancing the skills of its young talent and preparing them for the ever-changing job market. The Minister warmly welcomed the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation delegation. He praised the Foundation's significant role in developing the capabilities of Arab youth through innovative, specialized programs that follow a 'Learn to Earn' model. He also stressed the government's commitment to forming smart partnerships with regional and international organizations to leverage successful experiences and build a more sustainable future. Dr. Ahmed Rostom added that the Ministry places youth empowerment at the forefront of its economic development plans. He appreciated the Foundation's interest in strengthening ongoing coordination on shared priorities. He explained that the government, through the 'Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship' (chaired by Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs), is working to create a unified approach among various national stakeholders. This approach aims to encourage a culture of innovation and enable startups to contribute significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product. Dr. Ahmed Rostom also highlighted that the Ministry's vision focuses on improving the planning system and maximizing the developmental impact of public investment based on accurate data. This includes promoting entrepreneurship and digital transformation. He expressed the Ministry's full readiness to develop joint programs with the Foundation to enhance youth capabilities and equip them with the flexible skills and tools needed to adapt to rapid economic and technological changes. For their part, representatives of the Abdullah Al Ghurair Foundation presented the key aspects of their regional work. They emphasized their focus on supporting youth through the 'Learn to Earn' model, which covers professional development, mentorship, innovation in higher education, and connecting graduates with real and sustainable job opportunities. The meeting also included discussions on practical cooperation opportunities in entrepreneurship. This was particularly focused on spreading financial literacy among young people and promoting concepts of saving and responsible financial management. They also talked about supporting awareness programs regarding market demands. An agreement was reached to explore launching joint training initiatives for financial literacy in entrepreneurship and institutional capacity building. This will greatly support Egypt's efforts to provide promising and sustainable economic opportunities for future generations.