National Bank of Egypt Awards Top Entrepreneurial Projects in ”Shabab Shamel” Initiative
hamdy Abdelrashid
The National Bank of Egypt (NBE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and under the auspices of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), has announced the winning projects of the "Shabab Shamel" (Inclusive Youth) initiative.
This comprehensive program is designed to elevate financial literacy, foster entrepreneurial skills among youth, and introduce them to tailored banking services. The overarching goal is to drive economic and social empowerment while actively contributing to sustainable development.
Judging Panel and Evaluation
The final selection took place following a series of events hosted across various sporting clubs in the Cairo governorate. The project pitches were evaluated by a distinguished judging panel, which included:
Mostafa Mounir: General Manager of SMEs at the Central Bank of Egypt.
Saad Nadim: Financial Inclusion Unit Official at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Chantal Sabbagh: Head of Business Development and Non-Financial Services for SMEs at NBE.
Mohamed Fathy Helal: General Manager of Investments at NBE.
Tamer Mostafa: Deputy General Manager of Business Technology and Performance Testing at NBE.
Competition Metrics & Prize Pool
The initiative witnessed significant engagement, with over 50 projects and innovative ideas submitted by participating youth. Following a rigorous evaluation process based on predefined criteria, 12 projects were shortlisted before the top three winners were selected to receive financial backing to bring their ideas to life.
Metric / RankDetail / Prize Award
Total Submissions50+ Projects
Shortlisted Projects12 Projects
First Place WinnerEGP 250,000
Second Place WinnerEGP 150,000
Third Place WinnerEGP 50,000
Capacity Building and Financial Literacy
The recent awards conclude a broader capacity-building phase that began in April, where the "Shabab Shamel" program established dedicated pavilions in several Cairo clubs for six days.
During this phase, the initiative delivered targeted financial education sessions, practical workshops on business establishment and management, and specialized seminars on innovation. NBE utilized this platform to highlight its retail banking solutions and comprehensive SME support programs—encompassing both financial and non-financial solutions—with a special focus on the "Nilepreneurs" (Rowad El Nile) initiative.
The "Shabab Shamel" initiative stands as a successful model of synergy between state institutions and the banking sector. By providing a stimulating environment and essential funding, the program is actively preparing a new generation capable of transforming innovative concepts into viable, operational enterprises.
