QNB Egypt and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), under the auspices of the Central Bank of Egypt, celebrated the launch of the SME National Champion Program, which is one of the leading models for supporting and developing the SME sector in Egypt.
The program reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting the national economy by strengthening the capabilities of this vital sector, which is the backbone of economic growth.
The programme aims to support SME owners by providing specialised non-financial services, including training in management and financial skills, as well as technical and marketing advice from local and international consultants tailored to the needs of each project, in addition to enhancing their capacity to expand and grow in local and global markets.
The programme launch ceremony was attended by Mr. Mohamed Badir, CEO of QNB Egypt, Mr. Tarek Fayed, Deputy CEO of QNB Egypt, Mr. Sherif Lokman, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt for Financial Inclusion, Ms. Reem Al Saadi, Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and representatives from the Central Bank of Egypt, QNB Egypt, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The programme is expected to contribute to the qualification of many projects and achieve qualitative leaps in performance and efficiency, helping companies overcome market challenges, open new global markets, and achieve higher levels of sustainability and competitiveness.
Bedeir emphasised that the EBRD’s selection of QNB Egypt to launch this programme reflects our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and project owners at various stages, with a focus on high value-added productive sectors, most importantly export-oriented companies, in recognition of the pivotal role of exporters in driving economic growth in any country. as they are the window of the local economy to global markets. QNB Egypt’s support for exporters is a strategic pillar within the objectives of sustainable development and achieving comprehensive growth. Our bank’s role is expanding from simply financing exports to becoming a development partner for exporters, by providing integrated financial and advisory solutions.
He explained that QNB Egypt attaches great importance to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises as they are the backbone of the national economy, contributing to job creation, increasing local production, and promoting innovation. The importance of this segment increases when it has the capacity to export, which is an effective tool for boosting foreign exchange reserves and supporting the trade balance. From this perspective, QNB Egypt, as one of the leading banks in Egypt and the region, plays a role in supporting and empowering these companies and facilitating their entry into global markets, which has a positive impact on sustainable development.
QNB Egypt is one of the first banks to succeed in record time in complying with the directives of the Central Bank of Egypt and allocating more than 25% of its total credit portfolio, in addition to 10% for small projects, which has been reflected in dozens of projects that have played a major role in supporting the national economy, providing job opportunities, and improving and increasing productivity.
Mohamed Badir expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Central Bank of Egypt for its leading role in continuing to promote and support the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, whether through initiatives launched from time to time or through the facilities it provides to facilitate business owners, in addition to its partnership with major international institutions to support and develop the small and medium-sized enterprise system. The CEO of QNB Egypt also expressed his pride in the partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, looking forward to achieving a new chapter of success through the SME National Champion Program.
Mr. Sherif Lokman emphasised the importance of international partnerships that the Central Bank is keen to foster, foremost among which is the fruitful cooperation between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and QNB Egypt to prepare and implement this specialised technical programme, which aims to enable Egyptian SMEs to expand into foreign markets. He pointed out that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are among the main pillars of economic development in Egypt, making their support a strategic priority for achieving sustainable growth.
He explained that the programme is integrated with the state’s objectives to increase the volume of exports, emphasising that expanding the base of companies eligible for export and enhancing their capabilities is key to achieving this ambitious goal. He also stressed that Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Central Bank’s financial inclusion strategy pay great attention to small and medium-sized enterprises in priority sectors, foremost among which are industry, agriculture and exports, due to their vital role in creating job opportunities and boosting local production.
He concluded his speech by emphasising that supporting the industrial and export sectors is one of the most important areas of focus for the Central Bank, noting that the launch of this programme represents a practical step in this direction.
Ms. Reem Al Saadi, Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, expressed her delight and pride at the launch of this programme in partnership with QNB Egypt, with which we have a long and successful relationship due to its prominent role and commitment to supporting the SME sector, making it an ideal partner in this initiative. She also expressed the EBRD’s optimism about what this initiative can achieve and the success stories that will emerge from it, which will serve as examples of innovation, growth and resilience. She also expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to the Central Bank of Egypt for its continued support and the vital role it plays in supporting and developing the SME sector in Egypt
