The National Consultation on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt - organized by the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Embassy of Sweden – kicked off on Tuesday in Cairo, with the participation of diplomats and representatives of international organizations.
Gabriela Ramos, OECD chief of staff, valued the presence of eight women ministers in the Egyptian government, pointing out that the OECD sought to support the Egyptian government’s plans to empower women and its economic reform agenda.
“Increasing women’s employment rates from the current 23% to 50% will improve the growth rate by about 7%, so we must emphasize that women’s empowerment is an economic issue, not just a social issue,” she said.
Ramos added that Egypt assumed a great role in the region in the empowerment of women, pointing out that many African countries have taken Egypt as an example in implementing economic reforms in this regard.
Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said that the ministry was working on legislative reforms and investment policies for the economic empowerment of women, and attracting investors to inject new investments in Egypt, especially businesswomen.
Nasr emphasized the ministry’s focus on providing job opportunities for women and the youth, adding that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has stressed, since the beginning of his term, the need to support the empowerment of women in all fields.
