Award ceremony recognizes Damietta’s entrepreneurship pioneers

Damietta, Egypt (ILO News)- In an effort to promote entrepreneurship, especially women-led entrepreneurship, environmental initiatives and youth employment in Damietta, the "Rowad Damietta" competition had concluded its third round of finals in the governorate. Financial prizes totalling nearly EGP 1 million were awarded to innovators excelling in various fields, reflecting the governorate's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, especially among women, youth, and environmental initiatives.

The competition, which is now in its third round, is a flagship activity under the ILO’s Decent Jobs for Egypt's People: Together to Develop the Youth in Damietta (DJEP) project, funded by Methanex Egypt. It highlights the ILO's mission to promote decent work, social justice, and inclusive economic growth.

This year’s awards celebrated nine winners across two categories: Best Startup and Best Existing Business. Among the winners were six startups selected from 123 entries and three established businesses chosen from 32 entries. Their ventures span critical sectors such as agriculture, environmental sustainability, green technology, and social innovation.

Distinguished attendees and remarks

The ceremony was attended by prominent national and local leaders, including H.E. Mohamed Gobran, Minister of Labour; Dr. Ayman Elshehaby, Governor of Damietta; Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office; Eng. Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director of Methanex Egypt; and Dr. Rabea Hamdan Elmetwaly, President of Damietta University. Also in attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Labour, the National Council for Women (NCW), the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), and private sector organizations.

In his keynote speech, Minister Gobran reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to sustainable and inclusive development and emphasized the role of small businesses in creating decent jobs. "The Egyptian state is determined to support youth in starting businesses and is focusing on developing vocational training systems to meet the demands of the local and global markets," he said.

Governor Elshehaby highlighted the Governorate’s keenness to provide all possible support and to cooperate with local and international institutions to support entrepreneurship fields. He praised the "Rowad Damietta" initiative, saying, “This competition reflects the governorate's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in line with the national development strategy.”

Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, highlighted the success of the initiative in creating employment opportunities and fostering partnerships. "The ILO remains steadfast in promoting social justice, individual rights and decent work opportunities, and we are proud of the milestones achieved in Damietta through international and local cooperation," he said.

Methanex Egypt’s Managing Director, Eng. Shindy, underscored the long-term cooperation with the ILO, which started in 2019. He announced the signing of a new five-year agreement in 2023 to continue supporting entrepreneurship and youth skills development in Damietta.

Empowering entrepreneurs and promoting inclusion

The event also celebrated participants who benefited from the ILO’s training programmes, GET Ahead and Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB). Ten women entrepreneurs were honoured for their business achievements, while six others received awards for their innovative business ideas.

A notable highlight of the event was the awarding of 17 private sector employment contracts to persons with disabilities, promoting workforce inclusion in industries such as engineering, transport, shipping, and investment.

Building a sustainable future

The DJEP project is implemented in collaboration with national partners, including the Governorate of Damietta, MSMEDA, NCW, and the Ministries of Labour, Local Development, and Social Solidarity. Together, these efforts aim to advance decent work, gender equality, youth employment, and women’s entrepreneurship in Damietta.