‘Haya Karima’ initiative aims to improve the lives of 26M women: Egypt’s Minister of Planning

CAIRO – 20 March 2023: Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Hala El-Said said that during the past 8 years, nearly half of the allocated budget of the medium and small enterprises, were directed to women in Upper Egypt.

During her speech at the Egyptian women celebration attended by president Abdel Fattah al Sisi and his spouse, Minster El-Said said that the number of financially supported women by the Ministry's different services has doubled twice

She also noted that the presidential initiative ‘Haya Karima’ [Decent life] contributed to improving the lives of 8 million women only in its first phase.

“Up to 26 million lives of Egyptian women are targeted to be improved during the initiative.” El-Said said

Egypt’s minister of planning added that over the past year, 14,000 women have been trained in all governorates to build and enhance their capabilities in different fields.

The Egyptian official said that the general index of women’s representation in boards of directors doubled from 9% to 20% during 2020.

She expected that ‘if the increase continues at the same rate, we will ensure that the percentage reaches 30% during 2026 instead of 2030’ as was previously planned as part of Egypt’s 2030 strategy.

According to El-Said, Egypt’s Ministry of planning has contributed the rehabilitation and training of 85 institutions, as women managed to win half of the first prizes in all categories during the training process.

During the celebration ceremony President Sisi and his spouse Intisar al Sisi stood for a photo-op with a number of role models of Egyptian women.

This came during the 2023 ceremony to honor Egyptian women and ideal mothers, held at the Manara International Conferences Center in New Cairo.

Sisi granted certificates of appreciation and Order of the Virtue to ideal mothers and some respectable ladies.

The ceremony is also attended by Senate Speaker Abdel Wahab Abdel Razek, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala el Said, Social Solidarity Minister Nevine el Kabbaj, Head of the National Council for Women Maya Morsi and a number of senior state officials.