MSMEDA CEO: Sustainability now key to SMEs’ market access

Sustainability has become a key condition for market access rather than an additional cost for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Mostafa Hassan, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), said.

Speaking at the opening session of Egypt Sustainable Business Week, Hassan said Egypt’s green transition requires greater awareness among SMEs, which account for a significant share of investment in the Egyptian market, and stronger support to help them adopt sustainable practices.

Technical support, innovation:

Hassan said MSMEDA supports SMEs as a growth partner, offering technical and institutional assistance alongside financing to help them adopt sustainable practices, cut energy costs and improve governance.

The agency is also working to establish a specialized unit to support innovation, which he described as a key pillar of sustainability.

Expanding green finance:

The MSMEDA CEO called on banks and financial institutions to provide more green financing to SMEs, helping them meet the requirements of the sustainable transition.

He stressed that the green transition is not an end in itself but a necessity for building an economy better positioned to export and compete in global markets. This requires helping SMEs adopt sustainability standards and strengthen their competitiveness.