Sudan Visits Egypt to Learn from Its Successful SME Support Model

As part of Egypt's commitment to strengthening Arab cooperation in economic development, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) warmly welcomed a high-level delegation from the Republic of Sudan. The visit aimed to explore ways to exchange expertise and benefit from Egypt's experience in supporting the small business sector and entrepreneurship. Basil Rahmy, MSMEDA's CEO, emphasized that the agency operates under the guidance of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister and Chairman of MSMEDA's Board of Directors. Their goal is to strengthen bilateral relations with counterpart agencies in Arab countries. This collaboration helps in exchanging expertise on financial and non-financial service delivery mechanisms, boosting institutional capabilities that support employment, and creating decent, sustainable job opportunities for young people. The Sudanese delegation included representatives from the Transitional Cabinet, the Ministries of Finance and Justice, and the Central Bank of Sudan. Their visit aimed to learn from the Egyptian experience, which is seen as an advanced regional model for designing and implementing policies that support micro, small, and medium enterprises. This interest truly highlights MSMEDA's growing reputation as a regional expert in this field. Rahmy explained that the proposed cooperation isn't just about exchanging ideas. It also extends to exploring ways to transfer and localize Egyptian expertise in Sudan, especially concerning legislative and regulatory frameworks. This support will help Sudan establish a comprehensive national system for enterprise development, build the capacity of relevant personnel, and adopt best institutional practices.