In light of the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises sector , which is considered the main engine for the development of the Egyptian Economy as well as for creating new sustainable jobs, GAFI has established "Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and SME Development" to support and develop Small and Medium Investments. The center acts as an agent that enables Egyptian SMEs to access the different financial and non financial services required to ensure their growth and development.

Business Development Services

Business Development Services (BDS) are non-financial services that provide the needed technical and managerial assistance for SMEs during establishment and early operational phases. Bedaya Center facilitates SMEs free access to BDS services through its SME units and the "SMEs Business Clinics".

Learn more about the BDS. Click Here.

Innovative Entrepreneurship Program

GAFI launched its entrepreneurial program to promote the entrepreneurial culture among the youth. The Program aims at creating a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs who are capable of establishing and managing successful new ventures that positively contribute to the economy through building on and integrating with all existing entrepreneurial programs and transferring the mind set of youth from job seekers to job creators .The program offers assistance to the entrepreneurs in the establishment of their companies as well as guidance and mentorship through linking them with mentors from the successful business community. Learn more about our Entrepreneurship Program. Click here for more information

Access to Finance

A major prerequisite for the success of SMEs is the provision of adequate and accessible financial resources, whether through conventional sources (banks, credit guarantees), as well as non-conventional products (leasing, factoring, venture capital funds). Even though SMEs account for a large share of enterprises, employment, and output, they receive a very low share of credit, with the majority often being denied any access to the formal financial institutions. The existence of such a "financing gap” is what led GAFI "Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and SMES" to implement the following three initiatives:

The Credit Guarantee Initiative for SMEs – Promoting conventional finance

The Investment Fund for SMEs Development – Private Equity and venture capital Financing

Business Linkages

The concept is based on the full integration and engagement of local SMEs in the supply chain of big corporates and multinationals. This program is designed on a win- win basis. On one hand it provides the big corporates with the potential to widen their pool of suppliers and increase competition thus achieving better quality and prices while on the other hand it opens the doors for SMEs to resume a more active role in the supply chain of big corporates and to have access to bigger and more sustainable markets.

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