Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: Innovation Is Essential to Keep Pace with Technological Transformations

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, delivered the opening keynote address at the fourth edition of the Egyptian Women’s Summit, organized by the Top 50 Influential Women Forum, under the patronage of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt. The summit was held in cooperation with the National Council for Women, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), and Nile University, under the theme “Science, Technology, Innovation, and the Knowledge Economy.”
The event was attended by Mr. Mohamed Gibran, Minister of Labor; Mr. Basel Rahmy, CEO of MSMEDA; media figure Dina Abdel Fattah, Founder and Chairwoman of the Top 50 Influential Women Forum; as well as private sector representatives, women leaders, and development partners.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship
In her opening remarks, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that promoting entrepreneurship and investing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as artificial intelligence, is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for any economy striving for competitiveness, innovation, and adaptability to technological transformations. She noted that Egypt places strong emphasis on supporting scientific research and innovation by encouraging research projects and working to transform scientific output into added value for the national economy.

The Future of Labor Markets
Dr. Al-Mashat referred to the recently issued Arab Future of Work Report, which highlights the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on Arab labor markets. She explained that modern technologies are creating new opportunities in information technology, e-commerce, digital marketing, and digital services, while simultaneously requiring advanced skills in data analysis, programming, and creative thinking.
In this context, she cited the World Economic Forum’s projections that 75 million jobs may be displaced globally by 2025 due to automation and digital transformation, while 133 million new jobs requiring different skill sets are expected to be created. The report recommends implementing structural reforms to better align labor supply and demand and adopting development plans that generate sufficient job opportunities for new labor market entrants.

Investing in Human Capital
The Minister affirmed that under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt’s development efforts have extended beyond infrastructure to include strong investment in human capital, capacity building, and the promotion of scientific research and innovation. These efforts are guided by a clear national vision that positions research and innovation as core pillars of sustainable and inclusive economic development.
She highlighted the expansion of partnerships with the private sector and the adoption of international best practices, particularly in applied technology education. Recent agreements have been signed to establish and operate 89 applied technology schools starting next academic year, while the government is working to transform 1,270 technical schools into applied technology schools in collaboration with international partners and the industrial and business community.

Improving Education Quality
Dr. Al-Mashat also referenced President El-Sisi’s recent meeting with Japanese education experts in Egypt, underscoring the political leadership’s commitment to improving the quality of education and maximizing the benefits of Egypt’s 69 Japanese schools to prepare globally competitive generations and skilled professionals.

Stimulating Innovation
She reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation to support the state’s vision for innovation, scientific research, entrepreneurship, and the transition toward a knowledge-based economy. This includes reshaping the economic growth model to address current challenges and future opportunities through the launch of the National Narrative for Economic Development, which focuses on high-productivity, value-added sectors such as information technology, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and energy.

Mobilizing Investments
Dr. Al-Mashat noted the Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary public investments under the economic and social development plan to expand applied technology schools in partnership with the private sector. The FY 2025/2026 plan allocates approximately EGP 30.5 billion in public investments to the education sector. She also highlighted the STEM schools model, now operating in 11 governorates, as one of Egypt’s most successful education reform initiatives, producing highly skilled graduates in scientific fields.

Data-Driven Policy Making
To enhance education and employment policies through accurate analytical data, the Ministry,together with the Ministry of Labor and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ),launched the Career and Employment Prospects Platform. The platform provides data on over 400 professions covering 98% of Egypt’s workforce, helping align education and labor market needs, boost employment rates, and support Egypt Vision 2030. She also highlighted the role of Sector Skills Councils in bridging education and training with industry needs.

Women Entrepreneurs
Dr. Al-Mashat stressed that Egyptian women entrepreneurs have proven themselves as leaders and role models, demonstrating that women’s economic empowerment is not a choice, but a guarantee for societal prosperity. She highlighted the government’s implementation of the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Women 2030, alongside multiple initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in economic development and creating a more inclusive labor market.
She also referred to the launch of President El-Sisi’s Alliance and Development Initiative, which seeks to enhance scientific and research collaboration between universities, industry, and production institutions, while leveraging regional competitive advantages across Egypt and integrating research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

A More Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship
Addressing the need for further reforms to foster a more supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, Dr. Al-Mashat pointed to the establishment of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, chaired by the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. The group is responsible for coordinating national policies and aligning efforts among all stakeholders. It has developed a Startup Charter comprising more than 80 structural reforms and measures, set to be announced soon, aimed at unlocking new opportunities and boosting startup investment over the next five years.
In closing, Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that empowering women in science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship is not merely an issue of equality, but a fundamental requirement for achieving sustainable economic growth and building advanced societies. She reiterated the Egyptian state’s continued commitment to supporting every Egyptian woman who innovates, develops, leads, and opens new horizons for her community and country.

Source: Press Release