UNDP Egypt Conf. pushes green, digital growth for SMEs, Youth

Held under the theme “Driving Egypt’s Twin Transition: Green, Digital, and Inclusive Growth,” the conference focused on translating climate action and digital innovation into practical opportunities for businesses and young people.

Green, digital transition key to SME growth:

UNDP Egypt Resident Representative Chitose Noguchi said the country’s green and digital transitions could create tangible opportunities for young people and businesses, stressing the need to put women and young people, alongside small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), at the center of these efforts.

This requires connecting them with the skills, technology, finance and markets needed to succeed, she said, adding that UNDP is helping turn promising ideas into sustainable businesses and livelihoods.

Mostafa Ismail, chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), said the transition is essential to the survival and long-term growth of small businesses.

“Financing is only the first step; our non-financial support is equally important in helping businesses adopt green and digital solutions and sustain their growth,” Ismail said, stressing the importance of making the transition affordable and inclusive across Egypt’s governorates.

Sherif Abdelrahim, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), said integrating green and digital solutions could improve productivity, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and strengthen climate resilience in line with Egypt Vision 2030.

Supporting the private sector, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, in adopting sustainable practices is essential to delivering economic and environmental benefits, he added.

AI, financing and partnerships in focus:

UNDP Assistant Resident Representative and Head of Inclusive Growth and Digital Transformation presented the program’s integrated approach to advancing the twin transition through sustainable infrastructure, innovation, finance and skills development.

Two panel discussions examined ways to translate these priorities into practical outcomes.

The first, “Egypt’s Twin Transition, Where Green Meets Digital,” drew on experiences from Egypt and Denmark to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies can improve resource efficiency and business competitiveness, as well as the support enterprises need to adopt and scale these solutions.

The second, “From Ideas to Impact, Building Egypt’s Green and Circular Economy Ecosystem,” brought together representatives from policy, industry, finance, development partners and entrepreneurship to discuss financing and partnerships that could help green businesses move beyond pilot projects to commercially viable solutions and expand their impact.

Youth innovation, green businesses showcased:

The Green and Digital Innovation Expo showcased solutions developed by SMEs, startups and youth-led initiatives, while the Youth for Sustainability segment recognized young people’s contributions to sustainable development and provided a platform for their initiatives.

Lone Thorup, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Denmark, said the success of the twin transition would be measured by the opportunities it creates for young people and their role in shaping it.

Through the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Initiative and its partnership with UNDP, Denmark supports youth innovation and sustainability, helping young people turn ideas into practical solutions, she added.

Denmark-backed project supports SMEs, job creation:

The conference also highlighted UNDP Egypt’s Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP), funded by Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Danish-Arab Partnership Program.

The project helps SMEs adopt sustainable business models, access finance and create decent jobs for young people and women. Together with Youth for Sustainability (Y4S) and the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI), it links business support with youth skills development and participation in Egypt’s green transition.

Noguchi also recognized the Embassy of Denmark, the National Bank of Egypt and Flat6Labs for their contributions as institutional, financial and entrepreneurship partners. Networking sessions gave participating businesses opportunities to connect with potential investors and partners.