The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) has recently forged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian Agricultural Bank and Matrouh Governorate to offer full scholarships to 47 deserving students from the region. Under this collaborative initiative, these students will have the opportunity to enroll at AASTMT, with all associated costs being jointly covered by the bank and the academy. In addition to financial support, the Egyptian Agricultural Bank will play a crucial role in ensuring food security for these students throughout their period of study. Recognizing the importance of practical training and real-world experience, AASTMT has also partnered with Halwany Brothers, a leading company, to provide both theoretical and practical training to the students. This strategic collaboration aims to foster the exchange of knowledge and skills, offering a high-quality education to the students from Matrouh Governorate and equipping them with the necessary tools for future success in their respective fields. Through this MoU, AASTMT, the Egyptian Agricultural Bank, and Halwany Brothers are collectively working towards empowering and supporting the education and development of talented individuals from the region.
After more than six months of intensive training, workshops, and orientation sessions, a momentous event was held to celebrate the graduation of 70 startups that had been incubated at the Agribusiness Development Incubator. These startups hailed from nine different governorates in Upper Egypt, including Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, and the New Valley. Each of these startups demonstrated innovative solutions in the field of agribusiness, thanks to the unwavering support of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the dedicated efforts of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. The project received funding from the Danish-Arab Partnership Program and was efficiently managed by the African Bank for Development.
During the graduation event, the incubated companies were provided with a unique opportunity to present their projects to potential investors and fellow entrepreneurs. This platform allowed them to showcase their achievements, attract investment opportunities, and establish valuable networks of professional relationships. The event served as a culmination of their hard work, dedication, and the knowledge they gained throughout the incubation program. It symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for these startups, as they stepped into the market with confidence, armed with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in the agribusiness sector. The graduation event marked a significant milestone in their entrepreneurial journey and highlighted the impact of collaboration, support, and innovation in fostering the growth and success of the agribusiness ecosystem in Upper Egypt.
The graduation ceremony of 70 agricultural start-up companies in the TWT incubators for agribusiness in Upper Egypt and the New Valley was recently celebrated by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Center at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport. The event was attended by prominent figures such as Dr. Hanan Majdi, Deputy Governor of the New Valley, General A.H. Sherif Ahmed Saleh, Chairman of Upper Egypt Development Authority, and Mr. Alaa Farouk, Chairman of the Egyptian Agricultural Bank. Under the patronage of Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, and in the presence of Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy, representatives from the African Development Bank, namely Ms. Jehan Al-Sukkari and Mr. Samuel Camara, were also present.
The TWT project, implemented by the Academy of Scientific Research with support from the Danish-Arab Partnership Program through the African Development Bank, aims to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Upper Egypt and the New Valley. The agribusiness incubator is a significant component of this project, designed to foster innovation and support startups in various governorates, including Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, and the New Valley. The Academy of Scientific Research emphasizes the importance of finding innovative solutions to economic, social, and environmental challenges faced by these governorates, particularly those with limited access to entrepreneurship services. The TWT project aligns with the Academy's efforts, complementing other programs such as the specialized technological incubators program (intila), the Business Accelerators program 101, and initiatives aimed at supporting Egypt's vision for 2030 and its economic development.
Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy, expressed the institution's commitment to providing support and opportunities for Arab and Egyptian youth, equipping them with the necessary skills to establish their own startup companies and enhance their competitiveness in the job market. He expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing successful cooperation between the Arab Academy and the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, particularly in programs such as the incubator for supply chains and logistics, as well as the Tanmia Wa Tatweer (TWT) agribusiness incubators in the New Valley and Upper Egypt. Mr. Samuel Camara, representing the African Development Bank, highlighted the vibrant ecosystem of Egypt, led by passionate and highly innovative young individuals, and expressed the bank's commitment to strengthening the ecosystem through transformative projects like "TDMA and Development," made possible by the generous financial contribution of the Danish-Arab Partnership Program.
Dr. Wael Al-Desouki, Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Arab Academy, provided an overview of the incubation program, which supported nearly 60 agricultural startups, providing training, mentoring sessions, specialized camps, and entrepreneurship training sessions throughout the program. Networking sessions and participation in entrepreneurship exhibitions were organized to facilitate connections between the startups and investors and the business community.
A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) with Halwany Brothers
Agreements & International Cooperation Center (AICC) [4]
Matrouh Governorate signs an agreement with the Arab Academy and the Agricultural Bank on AL MASRY AL YOUM news page [3]
The Graduation Of 70 Startups Incubated - Agribusiness Development Incubator – TWT on the AASTMT news page [2]
