Tatweer Misr signed on Sunday an MoU with Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), to develop an entrepreneurship and innovation hub, under the management of GEN inside its Bloomfield's project in Mostakbal City—Tatweer Misr's latest development in Cairo. Ahmed Shalaby, Tatweer Misr CEO and managing director said that the hub will be located on the 90-feddan college campus in Bloomfields. Shalaby added that the GEN is a platform of programmes and initiatives which help align a varied collection of players, programmes, and information to better support entrepreneurship. Following the signing of the MoU, and during a ground-breaking ceremony held on-site Sunday, the first stone in the GEN at Bloomfields was set by Sahar Nasr, minister of investment and international cooperation, Ahmed Shalaby, Tatweer Misr CEO and managing director, and Jonathan Ortmans, GEN president, representing the first building in the university campus at Bloomfields. Shalaby noted that GEN at Bloomfields, as the hub will be known, is expected to be operational by 2021 and will host several technology labs, 'state-of-the-art' work stations, co-working space, think-tanks, a gym, lounges, boardrooms, training-rooms, and an atrium which will be used for networking and events. He elaborated that the hub will be home to many partners, with offerings such as, but not limited to, executive education programmes, training programs, and lecture series. For her part, Sahar Nasr, minister of investment and international cooperation said, "The Ministry supports all efforts conducted towards entrepreneurship in Egypt" referring to the importance of the regional entrepreneurial hub in supporting entrepreneurship in Egypt and on a wider scale, the Middle East and North Africa. The minister stressed that "supporting entrepreneurship, especially those entrepreneurs that bring new and innovative solutions that tackle the challenges facing our country, is a priority for our government". The minister also strengthened "the significance of empowering our youth, supporting the small investor, developing a supportive ecosystem that will reinforce entrepreneurship and innovation and help our youth in achieving their aspirations, is a priority, especially in view of rising unemployment rates in the MENA region among youth and especially women." GEN President Jonathan Ortmans said that the GEN has been actively celebrating ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week' (GEW) events in Egypt for 11 years, since its inception. Ortmans noted that Egyptians are building some of the most engaging, proactive and dedicated entrepreneurship communities around the world, which are working towards innovating for real impact for the nation's benefit. He pointed out, "We could not be prouder to stand with our national affiliate, GEN Egypt, alongside Tatweer Misr, and other partners in opening GEN@Bloomfields. We look forward to empowering entrepreneurs throughout Egypt and connecting them to the global ecosystem that will help them thrive." Accordingly, the campus will offer a 360-degree turn-key solution to start and scale – from the initial concept all the way to sustainable commercialisation. Participants will also have direct on-hand access to a global and diverse team of experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, scientists, managers, CEOs and funders all under one roof, to nurture and support them during every step of their journey. This includes product development, services, business models, funding opportunities and access to markets, as well as exploring and identifying new industries and opportunities in MENA.
