Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali and Dubai-based shopping mall, retail, and leisure company Majid Al Futtaim have signed a cooperation protocol for one year, according to a press statement on Thursday. The statement said the protocol aims to enhance cooperation between the ministry and Majid Al Futtaim as they share common objectives in providing care and support to low-income and underprivileged individuals through Majid Al Futtaim shopping centres across a number of Egyptian governorates. The protocol supports the goals and vision of both the ministry and the company to create great moments for everyone, according to the agreement. They hope to achieve this through implementing sustainability strategies aimed at improving and supporting Egyptians' standard of living. Wali said the cooperation protocol is the fruitful outcome of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) unit within the ministry and aims to develop community welfare facilities through donation campaigns implemented by Majid Al Futtaim. The objective is to provide the necessary equipment to community welfare facilities, as well as improve programmes, activities, and services introduced in these facilities, including those for the elderly, homeless children, people with special needs, and abused women, he added. The minister added that the protocol also includes developing community welfare facilities through three areas of cooperation, which will include providing job opportunities to people with special needs at Majid Al Futtaim and integrating them into the labour market as well as allocating spaces in Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls to support small entrepreneurial ventures. The bodies also plan to enhance the infrastructure of care institutions through donation campaigns implemented by Majid Al Futtaim's widespread network of shopping malls throughout the year. Abdalla El-Nockrashy, Egypt country head at Majid Al Futtaim, said the company is adopting a very strong sustainability policy that strengthens social and economic responsibilities towards the communities that the company operates in. "Our cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity is once again emphasising our commitment to sustainable development that benefits our communities," said El-Nockrashy. Herve Majidier, executive regional director at Majid Al Futtaim Egypt, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, said that the new year donation campaign which Majid Al Futtaim started in January was a starting point for a fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The fundraising campaig was able to collect donations through our shopping malls and in Carrefour stores in Egypt. A total of more than EGP 255,000 was collected during the campaign, added Majidier. He noted that the amount has been donated to the Social Takaful Foundation, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, which subsequently allocated the money to develop the infrastructure of eight orphanages nationwide. source: Daily news Egypt
