On June 5, 2024 Enroot Development held a vital panel discussion  with the aim of enhancing exports from Aswan and the southern governorates of Upper Egypt. The panel discussion titled “Policy Solutions: Fostering the Export Potential of Aswan’s Productive Clusters” aims to support state efforts in boosting exports and achieving sustainable development in Upper Egypt, in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030. The event focused on proposing policy recommendations to enhance the competitiveness of production clusters in Aswan, enabling them to access more profitable international markets.

It included attendees from key decision-makers, including Engineer Mohamed Al-Sebai, Deputy Chair of the Agriculture Committee in the Egyptian Senate; Senate Member Ahmed El-Gendy, Deputy Chair of the Industry Committee; Senate Member Ahmed Samir, a member of the Economic Committee; Dr. Amr Mostafa, Chairman of the Holding Company for Land and Maritime Transport; Major General Engineer Khaled Kamal, Chairman of the Egyptian Fishing Company; and representatives from both international and local development organizations, including Ms. Hanan Dowidar, Drosos Egypt Country DirectorMajor General Sherif Saleh emphasized that “The Upper Egypt Development Authority is actively undertaking various initiatives in Aswan,” highlighting the need to increase local value addition throughout all value chain products. This approach aims to generate job opportunities in the governorate while promoting more efficient waste utilization.

Key Points

Senate Member Soha Saed highlighted that the economic sector is a top priority for the Egyptian government and emphasized the crucial role civil society plays in connecting decision-makers with the society’s real needs. She also stressed on the importance of linking tourism to Aswan’s renowned medical and agricultural sectors, which are particularly appealing to tourists.

Engineer Mohamed Al-Sebai expressed the crucial role that small and micro-enterprises play in the development of Aswan and stressed the need to establish laws and policies to improve river transport and develop the waterway to facilitate the transfer of products from Aswan.”

Dr. Amr Mostafa emphasized the importance of creating logistics centers in Aswan and connecting various means of transportation. He also emphasized the potential of production clusters in the governorate, particularly in dates, honey, and henna leaves”.

Professor Ayman Osman praised the outcomes of the event and highlighted the vital role of scientific research in developing plans for the governorate. He affirmed that Aswan University plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable development in Upper Egypt and that the MASAAR Business Incubator on the university campus has significantly contributed to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the region.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Hanan Dowidar stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve common goals. Enroot’s CEO, Dr. Hany Al-Salamony, stated that Enroot works to connect different stakeholders to enhance development interventions and come up with impactful solutions that address the needs of youth and women in the southern governorates.

About the Study

The panel discussion is part of a study aimed at providing sustainable solutions and policy proposals to develop productive clusters in Aswan. The goal is to enhance the profitability of  Upper Egypt’s products in international markets, boost the tourism sector, and empower entrepreneurs to attract investments that contribute to economic growth. Ultimately, the aim is to create decent job opportunities for the youth of Aswan and southern Upper Egypt, particularly in productive clusters related to medicinal and aromatic plants, fish, and handicrafts.”

This study is part of the MASAAR project being implemented in Aswan, with funding from the Drosos Foundation. It was launched in 2018 in the heart of Upper Egypt with the aim of boosting local creative economies and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. It is based on a cluster development approach that promotes entrepreneurship among youth and women through incubation programs, building the capacities of civil society organizations, and linking Upper Egyptian clusters with national and international markets.

This is facilitated through Enroot’s partnership with Aswan, Assiut, and South Valley Universities, as well as the business development centers and incubators in those areas.