Egypt's Mashat among top 30 visionary women in Middle East
Rania al-Mashat, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, was chosen by the UAE-based monthly magazine Economy Middle East as one of the top '30 Visionary Women Driving Change in the Middle East'.
The list includes pioneering and inspiring women in the ME region, who have contributed to leading positive transformations in various fields, reflecting the growing role of women in shaping a brighter and more sustainable future.
In its March issue, Economy Middle East posted: ' The Middle East is in the midst of a transformative period, where women are breaking down barriers, leading businesses and organisations toward meaningful change that is redefining the essence of empowerment, equality, and opportunity.
'As businesses and industries tap into the distinctive abilities of women, and their still untapped potential, the Middle East is experiencing a transformative shift in its economic and social fabric. Women are increasingly stepping into leadership positions, driving innovation and leading entrepreneurial ventures that are revolutionizing the business landscape, in both traditional sectors and emerging industries.
'Women are making significant strides and are paving the way for even greater change to unfold, establishing themselves as trailblazers and game changers that will without a doubt inspire future generations.
'This growing recognition of women's capabilities is not just changing boardrooms, but is also fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality in the region. As more women ascend to influential positions, they serve as role models, inspiring others to follow suit. The ripple effect is evident, as both women and men embrace a more diverse and dynamic workforce that unlocks new perspectives, ideas, and solutions to modern challenges.
'Furthermore, the region's focus on empowering women is leading to significant societal progress. Initiatives supporting women in leadership, education, and entrepreneurship are creating a more equitable environment, where the potential of every individual, regardless of gender, is given the opportunity to flourish. With these ongoing advancements, the Middle East is becoming a global beacon of women's empowerment and a model for others to emulate.'
Economy Middle East posted listed alphabetically the 30 women it selected this year for making an indelible mark in the Middle East
Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW), its members and President Amal Ammar, extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr Mashat for being selected among the top 30 pioneering women in driving change in the Middle East.
'Such recognition of Dr Mashat honours her journey of many achievements and her prominent role in enhancing the conditions of women in the economic and developmental sectors,' Ms Ammar noted. The NCW, she said, considers Dr Mashat's success a success for every woman striving to achieve her ambitions and contribute to the progress of her community.
Rania al-Mashat has been an influential member of Egypt's cabinet since 2018. She previously held the position of Minister of International Cooperation from 2019 to 2024 and was Egypt's first female minister of Tourism from 2018 to 2019.
Dr Mashat's tenure at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) from 2005 to 2016 was marked by significant contributions to modernising the country's monetary policy. As sub-governor for Monetary Policy, she played a central role in implementing structural reforms, notably adopting an inflation-targeting regime as part of the broader banking sector reform programme in 2004.
She previously worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC as advisor to the chief economist from 2016 to 2018, and senior economist from 2001 to 2005.
Dr Mashat is actively engaged in global initiatives, holding positions on several prestigious advisory councils and international alliances. She is a member of UNICEF's GenU, a founding member of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched by the Rockefeller FOundation, and a founding member of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Resilience Consortium. Additionally, she co-chairs the WEF's MENA Stewardship Board and the Network to Mbilize Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South. Dr Mashat is also involved with WEF's Mission Possible for Climate Action, New Economy and Society Stewardship Board, and the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative.
Through her diverse and transformative leadership roles, Dr Mashat continues to play a key part in advancing Egypt's economic development and fostering international collaboration to address global challenges.
Watani International
14 March 2025 Comments
comments Tags: Angele RedaEconomy Middle East 30 WomenRania al-Mashat
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
an hour ago
- CairoScene
Progressio's Plan to Power Egypt's Economy Through Invention
Spearheaded by Progressio, 1 Million Minds is reimagining innovation in Egypt by fostering inventors and creating the infrastructure to turn local ideas into global industries. Progressio's movement isn't chasing hype. It's building a new economic engine - by spotlighting inventors, commercializing IP, and fixing the innovation supply chain from the inside out. Egypt's next wave of growth won't come from logistics apps or fintech plays—at least not if Progressio has anything to say about it. The Cairo-based technology R&D firm is leading a bold new initiative called 1 Million Minds, a movement designed not to fund the next startup, but to foster the next inventor. It's not just a branding distinction. It's a philosophy. 'Entrepreneurs are already being supported in Egypt. What we've never properly invested in are the inventors,' says Yoeil Ashraf, founder and CEO of Progressio. 'Those who build new things. Those who innovate at the core product level. 1 Million Minds is here to change that.' A Movement, Not a Center At its heart, 1 Million Minds isn't a campaign, an incubator, or even a government program. It's a national movement—founded and spearheaded by Progressio—meant to embed invention, R&D, and intellectual property into the cultural and economic DNA of Egypt. Rather than chase venture funding or quick exits, OMM is focused on long-term impact. It's building public platforms, storytelling pipelines, educational programs, and incentive models that bring inventors out of the shadows and into the center of national development. Its founding belief is simple: if inventors are supported—technically, financially, and emotionally—they will build the products that solve Egypt's biggest problems, and ultimately fuel unprecedented economic growth. Why Inventors, Why Now? Egypt has no shortage of bright minds. But without visibility, protection, or infrastructure, most innovations never make it past the prototype stage. 'We're not short on talent,' Yoeil says. 'We're short on systems that recognize and reward invention.' Progressio sees a gap in how innovation is defined and supported. Entrepreneurs are coached to pitch and scale, but inventors—those working in materials science, med-tech, food engineering, and software IP—often lack access to legal frameworks, commercialization support, or even cultural recognition. OMM's goal is to flip that script. The KPIs of a Movement This isn't about inspiration alone. 1 Million Minds is built on measurable inflection points. Progressio has identified three historic benchmarks it's working toward: 1. The first Egyptian millionaire inventor, through royalties generated from licensed IP 2. The first startup to secure investment or acquisition based on intellectual property alone 3. The first corporate R&D investment into a locally developed invention These aren't hypotheticals. Progressio is building the support systems—legal, educational, media, and financial—to make them real. Beyond Inspiration: Building Infrastructure OMM's strategy operates across multiple verticals: * Education and awareness, demystifying IP law, R&D, and commercialization * Cultural storytelling, positioning inventors as national heroes through awards, documentaries, and public events * Community building, with mentorship programs and regional bootcamps * Visibility and recognition, turning invention into something aspirational, not obscure 'We believe that if we create an environment where inventors are incentivized, rewarded, and integrated into our innovation supply chain, we won't just fix our economic problems—we'll redefine what growth looks like for Egypt,' Yoeil says. A Parallel Track: The NCTC While 1 Million Minds takes the cultural and community lead, another Progressio-led initiative will provide the technical backbone. Launching in mid-2025, the National Center for Technology Commercialization (NCTC) is a separate but complementary project. Designed as a national platform for tech transfer and commercialization, the NCTC will focus on IP protection, licensing support, startup assistance, and industry collaboration—particularly in sectors like agriculture, energy, healthcare, and IT. The NCTC is where invention will be translated into viable business. 1 Million Minds is where invention becomes a national cause. Fixing the Chain, Fueling the Future Skeptics may ask whether a country can really build an innovation economy on invention alone. Progressio's bet is that it can—if invention is supported systemically, not sporadically. And in a region where innovation is often imported or licensed in, OMM offers a different thesis: that Egypt has the raw intellectual firepower to lead, not just follow, and that if that power is unlocked at scale, the results won't just be social—they'll be seismic. 'This isn't a campaign,' Yoeil says. 'It's a new foundation for how we grow.'
CairoScene
a day ago
- CairoScene
How a Dubai-Based Palestinian Brand Bottles Heritage
How a Dubai-Based Palestinian Brand Bottles Heritage At some point in our diaspora timelines- between explaining where we're really from, passport queues and WhatsApp voice notes about political heartbreak- we begin hoarding things that taste like home. Fragrant spices in ziploc bags. Date syrup and honey in repurposed jam jars. That one specific za'atar or sumac mix your cousin swears by. It's not a habit. It's survival. Isra Abu Zayed, the Palestinian-Canadian academic and storyteller, wearing her heritage like the keffiyeh draped over her grandmother's shoulder, knows this ache. But unlike most of us who stash bottles of olive oil between our socks on the way back from Amman or Beirut, she decided to build a business around it. For Isra Abu Zayed, home has always been a matter of the palate rather than the postcode. Growing up in Toronto, she might have sat at a kitchen table far from the olive groves of the West Bank, but every Friday morning wafts of za'atar-dusty bread, the sweet stickiness of knafeh and, most of all, the green-gold glimmer of olive oil were reminders of a place she never really saw, but always knew. 'I'm Palestinian through and through,' Isra tells SceneNowUAE 'My parents made sure our identity shaped every part of how we moved through the world.' Schoolyard taunts and classroom maps couldn't erase the stories they shared at home- tales of harvests, of farmers who tended trees older than most nations, of olive-pressed rituals handed down through it wasn't until her six year old daughter wanted to learn more about her heritage and share that- 'a bottle of that season's oil for her teacher'- that Isra realised how tangible that connection could become. And just like that, a bottle of olive oil turned into a passport. In 2021, out of that realisation, Zeit Bladi came into being. From a single family-run farm in the West Bank, where Nabali trees can take twenty years to bear their first fruit, the olives are hand-picked only when village elders decree they're ready. They are cold-pressed within hours of harvest, then travel by land through Jordan to Dubai, arriving as spring's first bottles: limited seasonal drops that turn anticipation into ritual. 'We only sell what the land gives us each season,' Isra explains. 'It's not about scale; it's about honouring history, community and resilience- one small bottle at a time.'
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Mid East Info
Zayed Sustainability Prize Forum Shines at BEYOND Expo 2025, Championing UAE's Global Vision for Innovation and Impact
The UAE took center stage at BEYOND Expo 2025 in Macao as the Zayed Sustainability Prize Forum emerged as one of the event's most compelling highlights. Co-hosted by the Zayed Sustainability Prize—the UAE's flagship sustainability initiative—and the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF), the Forum underscored the country's growing global influence in driving climate-forward cooperation and innovation. Held from May 21 to May 24, the Forum was themed 'Accelerating Impact: China's Innovation for Global Sustainability' and brought together a powerful coalition of global leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Through keynotes, TEDx-style talks, fireside chats, and panel discussions, participants explored how capital, technology, and community leadership can scale real-world solutions to global challenges. Echoing the Zayed Sustainability Prize's social media message, the sessions emphasized collaboration, youth-led climate action, and inclusive growth—core principles that define the UAE's sustainability vision. From advancing solutions in health, food, energy, water, education, and climate action, the Forum demonstrated how strategic investment and global partnerships—hallmarks of the UAE's approach—can accelerate meaningful change. Speaking at the event, H.E. Sheikh Saoud Al Mualla, Consul-General of the UAE in Hong Kong, highlighted the breadth of UAE-China cooperation: 'UAE-China collaboration extends far beyond trade, including energy, logistics, financial services, agriculture, tourism, and space. In particular, the UAE and China enjoy a robust partnership in sustainable development. From landmark solar plants to wind energy demonstration projects, Chinese partnership has been integral to the UAE's remarkable clean energy transition.' Dr. Gang Lu, Co-Founder of BEYOND Expo said, 'The partnership with the Zayed Foundation Association embodies the spirit of collaboration and humanitarian impact that BEYOND Expo strives to foster. Together, we are not only driving innovation but also empowering communities to create a sustainable future. This alliance highlights how technology and philanthropy can unite to address global challenges and inspire positive change.' Since its inception in 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has honored 128 winners, positively impacting over 400 million lives across six categories. Its impactful presence at BEYOND Expo reinforced the vital link between technology and sustainability, while strengthening UAE-China collaboration at a critical global moment. BEYOND Expo 2025: A Platform for Global Change Celebrating its fifth anniversary, BEYOND Expo 2025 drew over 25,000 visitors, 800+ pioneering companies, and 800+ investors to The Venetian® Macao's Cotai Expo, all aligned under the banner: 'Empowering Asia, Bridging the World.' A headline Opening Ceremony on May 21 featured Asia's leading tech innovators including Dr. Jian Wang, President, Zhejiang Lab & Founder, Alibaba Cloud, Carl Pei, CEO & Co-founder, Nothing, Dr. Burt Guo, CEO, Aerofugia, Zhaopeng Chen, CEO, Agile Robots SE Jingkang Liu, Founder, Insta360. The Expo also launched the BEYOND Founders Club, a dynamic new network of 30 elite entrepreneurs dedicated to sustainable innovation in Asia. Over 300 global thought leaders spoke across dedicated forums, including the Middle East-Asia Forum, AI Summit, BGlobal Summit, Asia-Europe Tech Forum, and Gen Z Founder Forum, reflecting BEYOND's reach as a hub of global dialogue.
