100 Startups Graduate from 'Orange Corners' Program from 2025 Delta Cohort
The 'Orange Corners Egypt' program announced the graduation of 100 startups in the first cohort of the 2025 program in the Delta region, during a ceremony held under the patronage of Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Ambassador Peter Mollema, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Cairo, at the Dutch Embassy in Cairo, in partnership with a number of private sector companies.
This comes within the framework of promoting the concept of innovation and entrepreneurship among Egyptian youth.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished group of government representatives, development partners, and private sector leaders.
In this context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, noted that empowering entrepreneurs by promoting innovation and creating new job opportunities is one of the main pillars of Egypt's economic development model, which is based on increasing private sector participation in development.
The graduation of 100 startups within the Orange Corners program, is a real example of how international cooperation and private sector partnerships can create opportunities at the local level and contribute to inclusive growth in vital sectors such as agritech, education, and climate smart solutions.
Among the graduating startups in the program's first cohort, 52 are led by women, reflecting the program's strong commitment to women's empowerment and inclusive economic growth. The program ensures that women constitute over 50% of total participants, in affirmation of its belief in the importance of integrating women into the economic development process and enabling them to build prosperous professional futures.
This specific cohort was characterized by its focus on vital sectors that affect the future of the national economy, including smart agriculture, innovation in the food industry, sustainable technological solutions, green entrepreneurship, education, health, and creative industries.
The program is a comprehensive platform that supports young entrepreneurs by providing specialized business development training, career guidance and mentorship, access to networks and investment opportunities, and the necessary support to establish viable and sustainable businesses.
It is expected that the program will support around 130 startups during 2025, including 100 companies in the Delta region across the governorates of Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahlia, and Menoufia, in addition to 30 companies in Upper Egypt in the governorates of Assiut and Luxor. Each graduating project is estimated to create between two to five new jobs, which means the program has the potential to create more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
It is worth noting that the 'Orange Corners' program was launched in 2021 as part of a global initiative by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and is implemented locally by Outreach Egypt Foundation, with the support of key partners at Al Qatta.
The program aims to empower young people between the ages of 18 and 35 in marginalized areas and turn their ideas into innovative, scalable projects, in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 and five key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 5, 8, 9, and 13).
The program contributes directly to supporting inclusive growth, entrenching a culture of innovation, and promoting the principle of sustainability, based on a firm belief that youth are the key drivers of Egypt's future.
read more
CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion
Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect
Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document
Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister
Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years
Business
Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves
Business
Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue
Business
Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday
Business
Wheat delivery season commences on April 15
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
News
Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Sports
Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
News
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies
Arts & Culture
New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Arts & Culture
Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
News
Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
News
Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt Officially Raises Public Sector Minimum Wages
Taarek Refaat Egypt's Official Gazette has published Decree, signed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, introducing amendments to the public sector minimum wage framework effective July 1, 2025. The decree updates key provisions of the 2019 wage legislation to reflect new wage thresholds for government employees and workers at public economic authorities. The move comes amid broader economic reforms and cost-of-living concerns, with the government seeking to bolster real incomes across all employment grades in the public sector. New Minimum Monthly Wage: Exceptional 13,500 High 11,250 General Manager 10,250 First Grade 8,500 Second Grade 8,000 Third Grade 7,750 Fourth Grade 7,000 Fifth Grade 7,250 Sixth Grade 7,000 The decree also introduces an updated mechanism for a "complementary wage incentive", ensuring that any employee whose total income falls below the minimum wage threshold for their grade will receive a top-up. The calculation will exclude certain special allowances such as remote-area bonuses, risk allowances, or non-cash benefits, while regular bonuses and collective financial advantages will be averaged into the monthly wage for assessment. This incentive system aims to harmonize wage fairness across ministries and public entities while maintaining eligibility conditions aligned with the Civil Service Law and other relevant public finance legislation. The amendments were adopted following Cabinet approval and a comprehensive legal review, as referenced in the decree's legal preamble, which cites Egypt's Unified Public Finance Law and recent Law, which governs public sector bonuses and incentives. The Egyptian government has incrementally raised the minimum wage in recent years as inflationary pressures and currency fluctuations have affected purchasing power. The current adjustment follows multiple prior increases, with the most recent benchmark set in 2024 at EGP 10,000 for many categories. As of July 20, 2025, more than 3.5 million public sector employees are expected to benefit from the new wage structure, including those in administrative bodies, service agencies, and economic authorities. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
White Gold: Egyptian Cotton Becomes World's Most Valuable Extra-Long Staple
Taarek Refaat Egyptian cotton has reclaimed its historical prestige on the global stage, now ranking as the most expensive extra-long staple (ELS) cotton variety in the world, overtaking the long-dominant American Pima for the first time in the 21st century under comparable shipping and quality conditions. According to informed sources within the Egyptian Cotton Exporters Association, the price of Egyptian 'white gold' has risen to 172–175 cents per pound, outpacing U.S. Pima cotton, which has remained steady at 167 cents per pound. The benchmark Giza 94 variety has led the charge in major Asian markets, traditionally strongholds for premium ELS cotton. 'This marks a historic pricing shift,' one source stated. 'For years, American Pima held the premium due to consistency and marketing dominance. But now, global buyers are responding to the improving quality of Egyptian crops and tightening global supply.' The leap in Egyptian cotton prices comes amid a surge in international demand and a notable rebound in local crop quality. Just a year ago, U.S. Pima held a price advantage of up to 100 cents per pound over its Egyptian counterpart. Egyptian cotton is currently being traded at $2.25 per pound for August and September deliveries, cementing its top-tier pricing status. Data for the week ending July 24 also showed modest gains for U.S. Pima, with net sales rising by 100 bales and total shipments reaching 8,700 bales (each U.S. bale equals 480 pounds). The total area planted with cotton in Egypt during the 2024–2025 season reached 311,000 feddans (approximately 130,000 hectares). The crop was sown in March 2024 and harvested in October. Despite an initial government-set guarantee price of EGP 12,000 per qintar, the floor price was later revised to EGP 10,000, a figure that also served as the opening price for public auctions. From the start of the export season in September 2024 to July 20, 2025, Egypt exported 36,400 metric tons of ginned cotton worth nearly $120 million, with 17 Asian and European countries receiving shipments. Industry sources expect continued upward pressure on Egyptian cotton prices in the months ahead, buoyed by rising demand and limited global supply for top-grade ELS fibers. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
Daily News Egypt
12 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
ETA welcomes dialogue with business community to build trust, enhance tax system: Chief
Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA), held a meeting on Sunday with a delegation from the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association to explore avenues for cooperation and listen to the delegation's suggestions and concerns regarding challenges facing the business community. The meeting aimed to improve the tax system and achieve greater fairness. The meeting was held in line with directives from the Minister of Finance to maintain ongoing dialogue between the Tax Authority and all stakeholders within the tax ecosystem. Abdel Aal emphasised the authority's commitment to building trust with the business community by actively listening to their real concerns through institutionalised and regular dialogue. She noted that the Ministry of Finance and the Tax Authority continue to implement legislative and procedural reforms designed to simplify tax processes, enhance transparency, and encourage businesses in the informal sector to join the formal economy. She highlighted that the first tax relief package, launched in February 2025, represented a significant milestone in resolving longstanding disputes and clarifying tax procedures. Law No. 6 of 2025 introduced a simplified tax regime for businesses with an annual turnover not exceeding EGP 20m, offering fixed tax rates based on business size and broad exemptions to encourage small businesses to formalise. Abdel Aal added that the initiative also set a cap on late penalties at 100% of the original tax amount. Additionally, Law No. 5 of 2025 allows taxpayers to settle estimated tax assessment disputes for tax periods ending before 2020 by paying a portion of the tax owed. For audited tax cases, settlement remains possible by paying the principal amount, with a complete waiver of delay fines or additional tax. She stressed that the authority welcomes all compliant business owners and there is no need to fear tax procedures when there is transparency and full compliance. Abdel Aal also underlined the importance of dealing exclusively with registered taxpayers, whether in traditional transactions or digital platforms. Abdel Aal further explained that the integration of the electronic invoicing system with the risk management platform enables real-time detection of fraudulent invoices. Companies issuing such invoices are immediately blocked from the system, while those dealing with them are also flagged, with no recognition of these invoices permitted in input tax deductions. This approach, she said, supports tax fairness and helps prevent fraud. During the meeting, representatives of the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association commended the authority's reform measures and its expanding communication channels. They affirmed their commitment to supporting the state and increasing tax revenues as a vital source of funding for the national treasury. They described the recent relief measures as a genuine breakthrough, though they noted that certain practical challenges remain. The delegation explained that they approach these issues from a developmental perspective focused on public benefit and acknowledged what they saw as a positive shift in the authority's performance, particularly under Abdel Aal's informed and open leadership. Nevertheless, they pointed out practical difficulties facing honest taxpayers, such as mismatches between declared business volumes and actual tax assessments, and obstacles in recovering customs guarantees without first clarifying tax status. Among their proposals, the representatives suggested forming joint committees between the Tax Authority and the Customs Authority to address issues related to guarantee recovery. They also called for allowing the deduction of reasonable business expenses—such as transport and employee travel costs—even in the absence of official invoices, provided these expenses are proportionate to business size. In addition, they highlighted the importance of addressing the culture of fear associated with taxation. In response, Tax Authority officials listened carefully and pledged to work promptly to resolve the concerns raised by the association's members.
