Dr. Dalia El Hawary, Deputy CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), participated in the second BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum held in Moscow, Russia, responding to an official invitation from Ms. Anna Nesterova, Head of the Russian side of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA).
The forum brought together around 2,000 women entrepreneurs, government officials, and experts from over 50 countries under the theme “BRICS Going Global.” It also saw participation from several international and regional institutions such as the African Union, ASEAN, and UNIDO.
Forum sessions tackled current global challenges and their impact on BRICS countries, exploring how the bloc can unify efforts to overcome these challenges based on the group’s core values of international peace and security, mutual respect, and multifaceted cooperation — both among BRICS countries and with the wider world.
Dr. El Hawary was a keynote speaker in a panel discussion on “Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries,” during one of the forum’s main sessions. She highlighted Egypt’s diverse investment frameworks, with a particular focus on the Suez Canal Economic Zone. She elaborated on the system of tax and non-tax incentives, regulatory frameworks, and competitive procedural facilitation that define Egypt’s investment climate, accessible to both Egyptians and foreigners without discrimination. She also discussed potential collaboration and partnership opportunities between BRICS countries — bilaterally and multilaterally.
The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA) was established in 2020, with its founding declaration approved by BRICS leaders during the bloc’s 12th summit. The alliance was created to foster interaction and cooperation among women entrepreneurs, and to develop and launch multilateral economic projects and initiatives among BRICS nations. It serves as a global platform for promoting women-led business across BRICS countries and beyond.