Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) has launched the Women in Business Empowerment Programme, developed in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and supported by the European Union’s Financial Inclusion Initiative.
The programme underscores CIB’s ongoing commitment to expanding women’s economic participation and enhancing their ability to grow and compete in the business market, in line with Egypt Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Designed to address the diverse needs of women entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, the programme offers a comprehensive package of non-financial services. These include specialised training and hands-on advisory support aimed at strengthening leadership, managerial and financial capabilities. Key focus areas cover digital marketing, brand development, business management, financial literacy and leadership, equipping participants with practical tools to enhance sustainability and economic impact.
The Women in Business Empowerment Programme is offered exclusively to women entrepreneurs who are CIB clients, integrating non-financial services with tailored financial solutions to support business growth.
As part of the programme, CIB provides a range of banking products and services, including credit cards, business financing facilities on preferential terms and innovative funding solutions. These are complemented by integrated services such as payroll management, insurance solutions and the ability to pay government fees through the Bank’s channels, supporting women entrepreneurs throughout their growth journey.
Eligible participants may also benefit from advisory services funded by up to 80% by the EBRD, enabling access to specialised expertise and professional guidance to help address the operational challenges faced by women-led businesses.
Yasser Abdallah, Deputy CEO for Retail and Commercial Banking at CIB, said the programme reflects the Bank’s strategic approach to women’s empowerment. “Supporting women entrepreneurs is not merely a social responsibility; it is a strategic investment in a more inclusive and sustainable future. Through our partnership with the EBRD, we are building an integrated ecosystem of non-financial services that aligns with the ambitions of businesswomen and equips them with practical tools to grow and compete with confidence.”
Hany El-Deeb, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises and Commercial Banking at CIB, said the initiative goes beyond access to finance. “The programme focuses on capacity building alongside financing, covering critical areas such as management, financial literacy and business development. This holistic approach enables women-led businesses to achieve both financial and non-financial objectives, strengthening their contribution to a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”
The first phase of the programme will focus on marketing strategies and brand building, with additional specialised tracks to be rolled out across multiple disciplines over the coming year.
Yehia El-Husseiny, Director of Advisory Services for SME Finance and Development at the EBRD, said the initiative would help strengthen Egypt’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem. “We are proud to partner with CIB on a programme designed to equip women-led small and medium-sized enterprises with the skills and expertise needed to realise their full potential and play a vital role in driving the local economy.”
El-Husseiny noted that the programme builds on the EBRD’s longstanding support for women entrepreneurs, adding that CIB continues to reinforce its position as a leading bank in delivering non-financial services tailored to the needs of women in business.
He added that investing in women’s empowerment is a cornerstone of sustainable development and economic growth, stressing that the programme reflects the EBRD’s vision of translating empowerment into lasting impact by supporting women at different stages of their professional journey.
CIB Egypt continues to play an active role in advancing sustainable development through programmes that combine innovative banking solutions with targeted non-financial services. From supporting entrepreneurship and digital transformation to promoting financial literacy and women’s empowerment, the Bank places inclusive growth at the heart of its strategy, driven by the belief that sustainable development begins with empowering women to achieve their ambitions and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
