SFD ex-head to lead SMEs agency

CAIRO – 22 July 2017: Minister of Trade Tarek Kabil issued a decision on Saturday to appoint the ex-head of the Social Fund for Development, Niveen Gamea, as the executive director for the Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Development Association for two years, eligible for renewal.

In April, Kabil appointed Gamea as the acting executive director for three months.

The Cabinet approved in April the formation of the new SME body, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Industry Ministry, to be responsible for startups and SMEs in Egypt.

The establishment of the agency comes in light of the Trade Ministry’s strategy to develop SMEs, which represents more than 75 percent of the Egyptian economy.