Context
Egypt is currently undergoing a process of political transformation which contributes to economic instability and low growth rates. To increase its international competitiveness, Egypt must shift from being a factor-driven economy to one driven by efficiency and quality. However, to date technology transfer is barely happening, and companies are not sufficiently able to innovate. Inefficient processing methods have led to high consumption of resources and energy, while the quality of products is frequently low.
Objective
The private sector’s capacity to innovate is improved, especially in the fields of resource efficiency and environmental technology.
Approach
The project acts at three levels. It enhances the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop technological innovations, promotes the emergence of business services to improve resource efficiency, and encourages the national discourse on sustainability. It works largely with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and SMEs, but also with a broad spectrum of players in the private sector and civil society.
Results
The project has supported the establishment of enterprise networks that develop solutions, for example for manufacturing wood substitutes from agricultural waste, treating grey water, and introducing decentralised wastewater disposal systems. In ten different areas of environmental technology, businesses, the academic and research community and representatives of the public technology centres are working together to develop prototypes that are adapted to local needs. The Solar Energy Development Association (SEDA) grew out of the network on solar thermal energy. It represents 65 companies, offers them training courses, undertakes lobbying, and works to open up the Egyptian market. With support from the project, SEDA has introduced an initiative to promote solar thermal energy systems in hotels into the political process.
The social enterprise icecairo enables young inventors, entrepreneurs and civil society in Cairo to turn ecological and social challenges into ideas for products and businesses. The enterprise was set up with support from the Private Sector Development Programme and the Employment Promotion Programme, and is now striving to become financially independent. In recent years icecairo has offered training courses to over 1,500 people, and has reached out to more than 14,000 young people via social networks.
In order to promote more competitive production, 22 service providers from the private and public sectors have been trained and certified in providing advisory services and training in resource efficiency. A total of 70 local experts are now qualified to offer fee-based service packages. So far the services have been implemented in 150 SMEs, generating water and energy savings of up to 29 per cent. An analysis identifying industrial resource-efficiency needs, which involved 2,000 companies across Egypt, has been used to establish an industry database.
The Green Star Hotel Initiative, which has been developed during the second project phase in close cooperation with the German and Egyptian businesses, has been successfully handed over to the Ministry of Tourism. The initiative for resource efficiency in the hotel sector was most recently supported and managed by a strategic alliance. Following an in-depth audit and training measures, it has certified over 50 large hotels. The project backed the initiative by enabling dialogue with the Ministry of Tourism on creating positive framework conditions for more ecologically sustainable tourism. An eco-tourism initiative has strengthened the capacity for innovation among smaller enterprises in the tourism sector by setting up a network of eco-lodges, environmental organisations and producers of handicrafts. Some of the activities in the tourism sector have been carried out by AGEG Consultants.