Under the umbrella of the National Alliance for Civil and Developmental Work, Abou Hashima El Kheir and Beltone for SME Financing have signed an agreement to support the youth winners of the STARTUP POWER competition with a value of 50 million EGP.

Abou Hashima El Kheir Foundation signed a cooperation agreement with Beltone SMEs — a subsidiary of Beltone Holding — under the umbrella of the National Alliance for Civil and Developmental Work. The agreement aims to expand funding opportunities for participants in the Startup Power competition, organized by the Abou Hashima El Kheir Foundation in collaboration with the MSMEDA (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency).

Through this partnership, Beltone SMEs will provide support to several winning projects, with funding reaching up to 50 million EGP, in line with Beltone Holding’s strategy to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative contributes to achieving sustainable economic growth and creating more job opportunities for youth.

The third season of the Startup Power competition targets 50 startups in key fields such as green economy, artificial intelligence, and agrifood.

Signing Ceremony and Attendees

The agreement was signed in the presence of:

• Ambassador Nabila Makram, Head of the Technical Secretariat and Executive Director of the National Alliance for Civil and Developmental Work

• Senator Ahmed Abou Hashima, Head of the Senate’s Youth and Sports Committee and Founder of Abou Hashima El Kheir

• Ashraf Abdel Fattah, CEO of Beltone SMEs

• Basel Rahmi, CEO of MSMEDA, along with his deputy, Dr. Raafat Abbas.

Commitment to Youth Empowerment

This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Abou Hashima El Kheir Foundation and Beltone SMEs, under the National Alliance’s umbrella, to support youth and entrepreneurs, and to foster the development of SMEs in Egypt.

Remarks by Key Officials

Ambassador Nabila Makram expressed her enthusiasm about the cooperation, emphasizing the importance of supporting youth, encouraging creativity and innovation, and contributing to economic growth. She praised the achievements of the competition in its first two seasons, in partnership with MSMEDA.

Senator Ahmed Abou Hashima reiterated his belief that youth are the true driving force of any society. He emphasized the foundation’s commitment to supporting them every step of the way, which inspired the creation of the Startup Powercompetition—a platform that has become a powerful tool for funding and supporting young entrepreneurs in Egypt.

He highlighted the success of the competition’s first two seasons in propelling ambitious ideas and projects forward, helping participants turn their ideas into successful businesses. For the third season, the competition aims to fund 50 startups in vital sectors such as green economy, artificial intelligence, and agrifood.

Abou Hashima noted that the agreement with Beltone represents a significant step in the journey to support youth and entrepreneurs. He described the protocol as a genuine partnership focused on funding and supporting startups within the competition’s key sectors.

Support from Beltone SMEs

Ashraf Abdel Fattah, CEO of Beltone for SME Financing, stated that the company would offer quick and straightforward financing procedures for competing projects in the third season of the competition. He also mentioned that Beltone would provide technical advice and business consulting to ensure the sustainability and growth of these projects, benefiting the national economy.

He added that Beltone’s strategy focuses on supporting productive sectors, the green economy, and artificial intelligence, aligning with the goals of the Abou Hashima El Kheir Foundation.

Basel Rahmi, CEO of MSMEDA, emphasized that the partnership would enhance and expand the Startup Power competition, enabling more youth to participate and benefit from the allocated funding for this third season.