By: Sarah Nour El-Din
Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, opened the activities of the annual forum of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative for women’s empowerment (The Future of Women’s Empowerment in the Age of Digital Transformation), which was organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology under the slogan: Role Model. Tech: Advanced digital solutions towards a sustainable impact” in conjunction with the international and local celebrations of Women’s Day during the month of March each year.
In his speech during the forum: Dr. Amr Talaat emphasized that the success of the communications and information technology sector lies in its ability to adapt modern technologies to achieve a societal, economic and developmental impact in various sectors of society. Pointing to the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to enable Egyptian women to use modern technological means to develop their projects and reach target markets.
Dr. Amr Talaat explained that the celebration in March of the 5th anniversary of the launch of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative coincides with the events concerned with honoring women, whether at the local level through Egyptian Women’s Day or at the level of celebrating International Women’s Day. Praising the success stories of women and girls who benefited from the initiative, which represent shining examples for many women who were able to adapt technology to achieve their goals. Emphasizing the keenness of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to ensure women’s participation in all initiatives, whether related to training or those aiming to create job opportunities, and to follow up on indicators of participation rates.
Dr. Amr Talaat added that the percentage of women’s participation in the communications and information technology sector in general reaches 45%. He expressed his aspiration to increase this percentage. He thanked the work team responsible for implementing the initiative. He also thanked the United Nations Development Program and the partners in implementing the initiative from entities and civil society.
The Qudwa.Tech initiative has provided digital support to more than 11,000 women and entrepreneurs, by graduating 55 training groups from all governorates of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the craft and service fields by building their skills in digital marketing using social networking sites, in addition to holding more than 70 advisory sessions and awareness seminars were held on topics supporting e-commerce, artificial intelligence applications, production of visual digital content and advanced digital solutions. Digital awareness of sustainable development issues was also raised for women craftsmen and knowledge pioneers who transferred their expertise to more than 3,000 women in their local communities in the various governorates.
The initiative also had a prominent societal impact, represented by role models in local communities, which reflects the sustainability of the training programs of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative, and the broad scope of its ability to reach and penetrate all women’s communities in various governorates, especially the areas most in need, by targeting multiple and new training paths characterized by flexibility. Innovation and integration to develop the skills of craftswomen to use new and advanced technological solutions to keep pace with the rapid transformations of digital society.
During the event, Alessandro Fracasetti, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Egypt, gave a speech in which he pointed to the program’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s plan to achieve sustainable development, and enhancing the ability to overcome economic and social challenges, by working on the main areas of sustainable development, comprehensive growth, and strategic innovation. And digital transformation. He also praised the partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the field of digital transformation for sustainable development and the promotion of financial inclusion and economic empowerment for women, stressing the role of the program in raising awareness of the opportunities available to women in the digital economy sector, in light of the efforts made at the international level to Social and economic empowerment of women, and engaging everyone digitally to achieve gender equality.
The forum activities highlighted the effective role of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative in investing in women’s creative abilities to open the way for women craft and service business owners to help them catch up on the path of digital transformation within the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to respond to the requirements of digital empowerment for women in Egyptian society, through programs. New training aims to improve the technological skills of craftswomen and entrepreneurs, and works to spread awareness of the importance of adopting modern technological solutions that support the economic and social empowerment of women, based on the ministry’s strategy towards building people and developing their skills in using technological solutions and applications, activating their role in the digital transformation system, and supporting the enterprise sector. Small and craftsmanship.
For her part, Engineer Hoda Dahrouj, Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Community Development, and Director of the Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development Project in Egypt, gave a presentation that included following up on the activities that have been implemented by the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative in the digital empowerment of craftswomen through marketing training programs. Digital and e-commerce, artificial intelligence applications, and the most important opportunities provided by the initiative for Egyptian women to confront economic challenges by creating new opportunities in the fields of craft work and marketing for small projects using information and communications technology.
As part of the efforts made to establish institutional partnerships in the business sector; Training programs were implemented within the framework of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative for female workers at the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels, which includes 10 tourism companies, to train them on electronic marketing for their companies.
On his part; Abdel Fattah Safwat, Marketing and Business Development Advisor at the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels, pointed out that the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative highlights the state’s approach to supporting and empowering Egyptian women in the era of digital transformation. Praising the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in advancing society and developing the skills of women entrepreneurs and handicraft owners through the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative; Stressing the company's keenness to have the largest number of female workers participate in marketing and sales activities in companies and hotels within the electronic marketing training program, which is carried out with the utmost professionalism by those in charge of it.
During the forum activities; Dr. Amr Talaat and Alessandro Fracasetti handed over certificates of honor to a number of successful role models, including entrepreneurs and craftswomen, who have benefited from the initiative during previous years, and who have contributed to creating an economic and social impact in their local communities in the various governorates, and in increasing digital job opportunities for women in Society, and achieving optimal use of artificial intelligence applications and digital marketing solutions to achieve a sustainable economic and social impact.
They also handed over certificates of honor to representatives of a number of partner agencies of the “Qudwa.Tech” initiative, and individual experts and specialists, for their role in building and enhancing the digital skills of the initiative’s beneficiaries, women owners of handicrafts and heritage, and women entrepreneurs.
