The Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat have witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Planning and Egypt Post, focusing on the realization of the economic empowerment pillar within the National Family Development Plan.
The protocol was signed by the Director of Cairo Demographic Center (CDC) Amira Tawadros and the Vice Chairman for Financial Inclusion at Egypt Post Khaled Emam, in the presence of Egypt Post Chairperson Sherif Farouk.
The protocol aims to strengthen the national efforts to achieve women’s economic empowerment within the framework of the National Family Development Plan. Under the protocol, financial and other services by Egypt Post will be made available for the women nominated by the Ministry of Planning, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the National Council for Women (NCW).
El-Said emphasized that, for the first time, the National Egyptian Family Development Project manages the population issue from a comprehensive development perspective. The project’s general strategic goals include upgrading the population characteristics, improving the quality of life for Egyptian families, and achieving economic empowerment for women.
She added that sustaining positive outcomes and improving development indicators require robust population policies. El-Said conveyed contentment with the collaboration with Egypt Post, highlighting its role as a strategic partner for Egyptian citizens in providing economic, financial, and monetary services through its extensive network of post offices across the country.
For his part, the ICT Minister stressed the significance of cooperation between the Ministry of Planning and Egypt Post within the framework of the National Family Development Plan. He added that Egypt Post has achieved economic and human development, especially for women in the countryside.
Talaat explained that the collaboration aligns with Egypt Post’s expansion efforts in outlets and the diversification of services to cater to citizens’ diverse needs. It also comes in line with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) strategy, which is focused on redefining the role of Egypt Post for enhanced community service.
Capitalizing on its extensive network of offices and the trust of citizens, especially in rural areas, Egypt Post offers financial services to empower women and girls in the countryside, he added. The ICT Minister further stated that initiatives are implemented to upskill women and girls in rural areas as part of the national flagship project, Decent Life.
Under the protocol, the Ministry of Planning will share with Egypt Post the list of women wishing to receive financial and other services through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and NCW, within the National Family Development Plan. Project beneficiaries will also enjoy access to the diverse services offered by Egypt Post.
The Chairperson of Egypt Post highlighted that the protocol is a crucial component of the concerted efforts aimed at executing the Plan. He emphasized that, as part of the protocol, complimentary postal savings accounts will be created for female beneficiaries, with a waiver of administrative fees for one year. Women will also receive fee-free e-payment cards, gain entry into loyalty programs, and enjoy discounts on local postal services provided by Egypt Post during promotional campaigns and special occasions.
Project beneficiaries can submit applications for funding requests for projects and SMEs at post offices, utilizing the microfinance services provided by Egypt Post per the governing regulations. Family data, as well, can be registered through Post Offices on the Project system, contributing to the provision of seamless and high-quality services.
