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Khaled Bassiouny, General Manager of Financial Inclusion at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), announced the launch of a new phase of financial inclusion for the 2026–2030 period. This strategy focuses primarily on driving actual and effective usage of banking services, following the completion of the first strategy (2022–2025), which centered on broadening reach and basic access. Speaking at Cairo ICT 2026, Bassiouny emphasized that success is no longer measured solely by beneficiary headcounts, but by ensuring target groups receive tangible benefits tailored to their socio-economic needs.

Social and Cultural Barriers Facing Rural Women

Bassiouny explained that economic empowerment for women in rural areas faces dual challenges, as restrictive social norms and limited independent financial decision-making hinder access to banking institutions. Field visits in Beni Suef Governorate revealed that some women condition opening a bank account on their husbands doing so first—highlighting how prevailing traditions affect independent interaction with the banking sector.

Mobile Phone Ownership Impedes Digital Transactions

Technology-related hurdles present daily challenges; a significant number of SIM cards used by women in rural villages are registered under their husbands' names rather than their own. This hampers identity verification processes and the activation of mobile financial services. Bassiouny noted that deploying digital apps does not automatically translate into widespread adoption, given the varying levels of digital literacy.

Numerical Illiteracy and Product Design Challenges

Beyond traditional illiteracy, Bassiouny highlighted "Numerical Illiteracy" as a major barrier, with some women finding it difficult to distinguish between basic numbers. This underscores the need to rethink how financial and technological solutions are designed, tailoring applications for both smartphones and feature phones to match the actual capabilities of users.

Strategic Partnerships to Boost Economic Empowerment

In collaboration with the National Council for Women, the CBE is expanding savings and credit group initiatives. These programs aim to build financial management skills and provide safe saving and borrowing channels in rural areas, while continuously accommodating local cultural and educational contexts to ensure sustainable economic empowerment.

Customer-Centricity and Demand-Driven Innovation

The General Manager of Financial Inclusion stressed that the success of this new phase relies on adopting a customer-centric approach—actively listening to citizens and designing services around their genuine requirements. Improving usage quality and meeting real-world needs will serve as the primary metrics for future banking policies.