The ‘Shell Intilaaqah Egypt’ programme, initiated in 2004 by Shell Egypt as part of their corporate social responsibility and supported by British Council Egypt since 2006, targets young Egyptians between 18 – 32 years old to help them start their own businesses. The 2012 participants, coming from 14 governorates, have received training throughout the year on entrepreneurship skills and innovative startup businesses to reach the Annual Awards contest.
Jeroen Regtien, Shell Egypt Chairman, says “ It is with great pride that we see today honouring this number of this promising Egyptian youth, who took his way towards the development and establishment of small and medium enterprises, and fulfill his dream of turning to future businessman, Intilaaqah has been established through Shell company, and partnered with British Council to widen our success, as well as many other partners such as the Social Fund for Development and Egyptian Business Development Association"
Since its inception in Egypt in 2004, the programme succeeded in establishing 550 small enterprises and training of approximately 5000 Egyptians including 215 with special needs to effectively support their full engagement and positive participation in the society, as well as establishing small enterprises based on correct administrative, financial, scientific methodology to ensure success and sustainability of these projects.
Mark Stephens, Director British Council Egypt, says: “We are proud of our fruitful partnership with Shell Egypt, launched in 2006 and successfully resulted in helping young Egyptians to start their own businesses and become self-employed. This partnership fits perfectly within the work we are doing under our Skills for Employability programme that aims at providing opportunities to the youth to improve their skills and lives."
It is worth mentioning the winner of the first prize for the category of Best Existing Enterprise is Faten Mohamed Abdel Mawla, for her Advertising Agency project, from Alexandria.