Egypt’s banking sector is experiencing robust growth backed by strong liquidity, rising deposits, and digital innovation. Domestic liquidity reached EGP 12.566 trillion as of March 2025, reflecting confidence in financial institutions.
In this context, Mohammed Gad, CEO of Standard Chartered Egypt, shared insights on the bank’s strategic priorities, focusing on supporting key sectors and empowering women entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Futuremakers Women in Tech Egypt accelerator.
Barriers for Women-Led Startups
Gad identifies two main challenges: limited access to funding and lack of non-financial support such as mentorship on sustainable business models, feasibility studies, and marketing. The accelerator aims to address both by providing mentorship, technical support, and capital access for promising ventures.
Tailored Local Support
The program offers equity-free funding of $10,000 to the top three winners and an intensive eight-week workshop addressing local business realities, including funding strategies, regulatory navigation, and marketing—all tailored to Egypt’s context.
Economic Impact and Inclusion
Standard Chartered targets supporting 400 women entrepreneurs and creating over 1,200 jobs regionally, emphasizing job creation and economic inclusion. The focus on female talent aims to diversify Egypt’s workforce and catalyze long-term economic growth.
Broader Empowerment Initiatives
While the Women in Tech accelerator is the bank’s flagship program in Egypt, Standard Chartered plans to build on this foundation to create sustained platforms promoting financial inclusion and empowering female-led innovation.
Strategic Growth and Market Engagement
Standard Chartered is expanding in Egypt with a full suite of financial services, focusing on corporates, government, and financial institutions aligned with Egypt’s economic priorities. The bank leverages its global network across 53 markets to facilitate trade, investment, and international expansion for Egyptian companies.
Positive Financial Outlook
The bank is active in sectors such as industrial, tourism, real estate, and government financing, including support for the government’s recent US dollar bond issuance. Improving macroeconomic conditions and recent interest rate cuts enhance the investment climate, reinforcing Egypt’s growth potential.
