At a seminar on financial inclusion and sustainable development, the Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority highlighted women’s role in Egypt’s microfinance market and restated its regulatory priorities for broader access to nonbank financial services. FRA Chairman Islam Azzam said women accounted for 53% of beneficiaries of microenterprise financing in the first quarter of 2026, or 1.8 million women, and held about 45% of the outstanding balances within the EGP74 billion total financing portfolio. The authority linked those figures to its ongoing work to develop the legislative and regulatory framework for nonbank financial activities, with a focus on expanding access and encouraging product innovation for women, youth and people in the most underserved and remote areas. It also identified financial literacy as a priority and said it is strengthening cooperation with domestic and international partners on awareness programs, responsible finance and the transfer of international best practices. The seminar, held with UN Women, Egypt’s National Council for Women, the European Union and the Embassy of the Netherlands, also included discussions on gender and financial inclusion, sustainable finance and rural women.
Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority2026-07-19
Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority highlights women as 53% of microfinance beneficiaries in first quarter 2026, reiterates inclusion-focused regulatory work
The Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority said women represented 53% of microenterprise finance beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2026, equal to 1.8 million women, and about 45% of the EGP74 billion outstanding portfolio. In remarks at a financial inclusion seminar, the authority also reiterated ongoing work to strengthen the regulatory framework for nonbank finance, expand access and support product innovation for underserved groups.