Egypt is stepping up efforts to turn graduates into business owners through closer cooperation between universities and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA). The growing partnership is designed to connect students with funding, training and practical business support, while building a pipeline of young entrepreneurs who can contribute to sustainable economic growth and job creation.
MSMEDA is expanding its cooperation with academic institutions in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The goal is to encourage graduates to launch businesses that contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development. MSMEDA Chief Executive Bassel Rahmy said these partnerships are part of the agency’s broader role in “building youth capacities and supporting innovative ideas.”
A key example of this collaboration is the student-led initiative Rokaz at Cairo University’s Faculty of Mass Communication. The initiative focuses on promoting self-employment and raising awareness about the importance of small and micro enterprises, particularly in productive sectors. Rahmy said MSMEDA is ready to provide financial and technical support to participants involved in Rokaz’s seminars and media activities, noting that such efforts align with the agency’s strategy to encourage graduates to establish small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthen local industries.
Building skills and connecting education to business
The cooperation between MSMEDA and universities goes beyond awareness and is designed to integrate entrepreneurship into academic programmes while giving students practical experience. Around 25 cooperation protocols have already been signed with universities across different governorates, in coordination with the Supreme Council of Universities. These agreements aim to embed entrepreneurial thinking into education and better prepare students for the labour market.
Rahmy described the cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education as “a model of effective institutional integration,” highlighting its role in embedding entrepreneurship concepts and development goals within academic institutions.
Practical training is a central part of this approach. MSMEDA has participated in initiatives such as the “Commercial Banking Simulation and Entrepreneurship” day held at the Culture and Science City. The event provided students with hands-on exposure to the realities of banking and development sectors, helping them understand how to turn ideas into viable businesses. Rahmy said such initiatives help bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, encouraging graduates to benefit from MSMEDA’s services and start their own ventures.
Expanding opportunities for innovation and growth
Beyond campus-level initiatives, MSMEDA is also linking young entrepreneurs to broader regional opportunities. The agency took part in “The Future Belongs to Africa 2026” forum organised by Senghor University, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and ICEALEX. This participation reflects MSMEDA’s vision of enabling Egyptian youth to access African markets and respond to rapid digital changes in the labour market.
At the same time, MSMEDA continues to offer technical training and awareness programmes through seminars and specialised initiatives. These include the “Business Simulation Game,” developed in cooperation with Ain Shams University, which targets final-year students preparing to enter the workforce. The programme helps participants identify suitable business ideas based on their skills and available investment opportunities.
Rahmy added that MSMEDA’s strategy also focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of locally manufactured products and promoting a shift towards domestic production. This approach supports small business growth while helping to generate sustainable employment.
As these partnerships continue to expand, they are positioning universities as active drivers of entrepreneurship, where students are increasingly prepared not only to enter the workforce but to create opportunities within it.
