Written by Reham Talaat
Cairo,Sep16,2025 at 11:28 pm
As part of the activities of Sahara Expo 2025, CEO Women, in collaboration with Informa Markets, organized a panel discussion entitled: “Influential Women in Agriculture: Policies, Progress, and Impact.”
The session was moderated by Professor Dr. Dina Arabi, Professor of Media at Galala University, with the participation of a distinguished group of executive leaders and economic experts from leading institutions in the agricultural and financial sectors, including:
• Shahd Hendawy, Commercial Director at Al Canal Sugar Company
• Sahar Sultan, Deputy CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA)
• Dr. Lamis Negm, CSR Advisor to the CEO of the Financial Regulatory Authority
• Dr. Mohamed Tawfik, Economic and Social Expert specialized in Governance, Water Management, and Agriculture
Discussion Topics
The panel focused on investment opportunities in agriculture, the economic challenges facing the sector amid climate change and water scarcity, as well as the importance of strengthening agricultural value chains and linking them to food production and export-oriented industries.
• Shahd Hendawy reviewed Al Canal Sugar Company’s strategy in supporting national food security and achieving self-sufficiency, highlighting the role of innovation in enhancing competitiveness.
• Dr. Mohamed Tawfik emphasized the need to shift toward water-saving agriculture and modern technologies as a key driver for attracting future investments.
• Dr. Lamis Negm explained that developing financing tools and investing in agricultural projects contributes to increasing productivity and improving sector efficiency.
• Sahar Sultan highlighted the role of microfinance in supporting agricultural entrepreneurship projects, stressing the importance of cooperation with financial institutions to expand investment opportunities.
Conclusion
The session concluded that enhancing investment in the agricultural sector is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable economic growth and ensuring Egypt’s food security, with the necessity of integrating efforts between the public and private sectors to open broader horizons for local and international investments.
This collaboration with Informa Markets comes within CEO Women’s commitment to supporting women across various economic sectors, out of its belief in the importance of women’s economic empowerment in the business world, and in strengthening their participation in driving development and achieving sustainable growth at all levels.