The United Bank Emphasizes the Importance of Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships at the 4th Annual Education Investment Summit, Under the Auspices of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Financial Supervision

14/07/2025

The United Bank Emphasizes the Importance of Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships at the 4th Annual Education Investment Summit, Under the Auspices of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Financial Supervision
Nevine Kashmiry – Deputy Managing Director and Head of Business Sectors, The United Bank
•    Strengthening public-private partnerships to open up new horizons for financing education system in Egypt.
•    Launching the National Human Rights Strategy 2021, followed by the State Ownership Policy Document, aimed deepening Egyptian identity and building an innovative and educated generation.
•    Major financing challenges facing the education system in Egypt.
•    14 initiatives launched by The United Bank in the field of education.
Cairo: July 14, 2025
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, International Cooperation, and the Financial Regulatory Authority, The United Bank announced its participation today in the 4th Annual Education Investment Summit. 
The summit was attended by government officials, ministries, and education sector leaders, in addition, to a distinguished group of Egyptian and foreign investors in the education field, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The conference was held under the title of: "Investing in Education: Pluralism, Integration, and Regional Expansion." The first session featured: Dalia Ibrahim – Chairperson of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, Mohamed Raslan – Co-founding Partner at Levari Law Firm, Eng. Emad Eissa – Head of Arkan Group and Arkan Educational Services, with the participation of Nevine Kashmiry – Deputy Managing Director and Head of Business Sectors at The United Bank. The session was moderated by Haitham Wageih – Managing Director of Avance Capital Egypt.
The session discussed several important economic and developmental axes including: the role of banks in supporting the education system by directing more direct investments to develop the sector. Also, the role of banks in providing necessary financing to foreign investors to attract more foreign investment to the education sector. Furthermore, how banks can play a leading role in offering diverse banking products to finance tuition fees, as well as educational, scientific, and research institutions inside and outside Egypt. In addition to the developmental role of banks in supporting Egyptian education through corporate social responsibility programs.
Nevine Kashmiry – Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Business Sectors, The United Bank – emphasized the importance of strengthening successful partnerships between the public and private sectors to open new avenues for financing the education system in Egypt. This is especially crucial as the policy of the Egyptian state and the directives of The Central Bank of Egypt aim to deepen identity and build a new, innovative, and educated generation in line with the latest global education systems, in addition to supporting the scientific research system and all innovators and creators in various fields.
Kashmiry added that the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy in 2021, followed by the State Ownership Policy Document in the education sector, was of great importance in laying down the foundations for developing and maximizing both governmental and private sector investments across all the education system either : compulsory education or pre-university education, commercial education, industrial and agricultural education, technical and applied technology schools, and dual education.
Nevine Kashmiry explained that UB's strategy stems from the national strategy, and thus, The United Bank launched 14 investment and development initiatives to advance the education system in Egypt:
1.    Launch of "Easy Learn" Educational Financing Solutions for Individuals and Institutions via Traditional and Sharia-Compliant Financing Methods:
The UB offers distinct, flexible, and smart financing solutions for Egyptian families and educational institutions, with an official fatwa (religious decree) from The United Bank's Sharia Supervisory Board. This is done with the simplest procedures through UB's network of 68 branches across the Republic, in addition to 5 carefully distributed digital centers serving clients in Giza, 6th of October, Sheikh Zayed, the Gamasa Industrial Zone in Dakahlia Governorate, New Cairo, and Mokattam, allowing clients to apply for the product around the clock.
2.    Financing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for Educational Institutions:
The educational process requires an intellectual and executive revolution. Therefore, a strong partnership between the private sector, financial institutions, and the state is essential to support development and improvement plans and raise the quality and efficiency of educational services provided, whether through expansions in educational institutions (buildings) or through technological applications and equipment.
Therefore, UB provides SME financing services to educational institutions to finance the purchase of advanced educational tools and equipment, both informational and audio-visual, to ensure a better educational level for our students, and also to finance equipment and expansions of transportation fleets.
3.    Deepening the E-learning System in Collaboration with the Egyptian Banking Institute and Major Local and International Educational Institutions:
UB established an e-learning system in cooperation with major specialized educational institutions, as the Egyptian Banking Institute. This contributed to setting standards for ensuring best applied practices, which helped in: reducing travel and transportation costs to attend training programs; evolving the traditional form and performance of training programs into discussion forums and workshops via computers, mobile phones, or video conferencing; and focusing on the comfort of the trainee, enabling them to access the materials they wish to study and train on from their workplace and through their personal computer. E-learning also provides flexibility in time and place. It also grants a degree of freedom for different age groups to continue self-learning and training. Furthermore, it enables access to specialized training courses taught by renowned international trainers according to international standards. This also reduces time wasted during traditional training periods, whether in commuting to the training location or during breaks, thereby increasing the amount of information the trainee receives.
4.    Innovation in Digital Financial Solutions:
Through "Bankak Ala El Khat" (Your Bank Online) package, which operates 24/7 to ensure parents and students have banking solutions that save their effort and time in fulfilling their obligations towards educational institutions.
5.    Financial Inclusion Campaigns in various Public and Private Universities Across Egypt:
These campaigns aim to spread financial and digital literacy among youth, especially university students, across various governorates.
6.    Nile Pioneers Initiative through Two Centers in Dakahlia and Minya, and Services Available through 68 Branches:
To support entrepreneurs and startups with innovative financial and technological solutions suitable for all ideas and projects.
7.    Schools Development Program under the Egyptian Banks Union Initiative:
UB participated alongside a group of banks in developing a number of schools across the Republic, starting with Helwan Governorate.
8.    "Bright Stars" Educational and Training Program – The United Bank's Plan is to Investing in Human Capital and Developing Second-Generation Leaders:
Believing in the importance of investing in human resource development and preparing them for future leadership, a comprehensive and intensive training and development process for all human resources resulted in the emergence of a number of qualified young leaders over 4 batches since 2018.
9.    Support for Students in Compulsory Education Schools in South Sinai Governorate:
UB played a significant developmental role in overcoming educational dropout, especially in compulsory education for students in South Sinai Governorate. It supported 356 students in compulsory education in several schools and encouraged them to continue their educational journey, especially the excelling students.
10.    Students of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering - Cairo University:
For three consecutive years, The United Bank has supported a group of distinguished young Egyptian researchers to participate in international forums, stemming from the Egyptian state's vision for sustainable development 2030. 26 students, graduates, and teaching assistants from the Architectural Engineering Department, Cairo University, won second and third prizes in several international competitions for designing sustainable homes for residents of informal settlements in Italy and Portugal.
The United Bank also supported the Cairo University Faculty of Engineering team in their innovative project for a fuel-efficient racing car. The project won the Shell Eco-Marathon competition in Italy.
11.    Providing Scholarships for Students of Zewail City of Science and Technology:
In support of developing the scientific research system in Egypt and empowering Egyptian students, enhancing their creative abilities, and advancing the scientific research system, 19 eligible students were selected, and 12 scholarships were provided to them at Zewail City of Science and Technology.
12.    Launch of "Our Children in Our Eyes" Initiative under the Auspices of the Ministry of Education and in Cooperation with Misr El Kheir Foundation:
The launch of the national initiative "Our Children in Our Eyes" aims to eliminate blindness and its causes among Egyptian children, in partnership with Misr El Kheir Foundation for Development and under the patronage and support of the Ministry of Education and Technical Education. This aims to raise public awareness and highlight the needs of these children and improve their lives in a way that ensures a dignified life and a better future. The causes of blindness in children are a real threat to the future of the new generation who will take leadership and build a better future for the nation. This is because blindness will hinder these children from optimal academic achievement and thus limit their opportunities for progress and sound thinking throughout their lives.
A medical team examined school children in 4 governorates: South Sinai, Halayeb and Shalateen, Fayoum Governorate, and Luxor Governorate. They also provided necessary medical services for treatment focusing on three main axes: combating the causes of blindness, combating anemia, and addressing childhood diabetes.
13.    Support for Students of the Academy of Arts for Applied Technology - The First Specialized School in the Middle East and Africa:
UB supported the Academy of Arts for Applied Technology school, the first school in the Middle East and Africa to graduate trained technical workers specializing in executing live performances and technological media shows across all disciplines of performing arts and traditional cultural industry professions such as: film industry, theater, video, ballet, musical performances, folk arts, children's arts, and others.
The United Bank issued its national "Meeza" prepaid card and granted it as a monthly reward to students throughout their study and practical training periods. This is in addition to organizing a series of cultural and financial lectures to spread the concepts and mechanisms of cashless financial transactions through the "Bankak Ala El Khat" package, which includes the digital wallet, mobile banking, and internet banking, as well as ATM services for students and faculty members at the school.
14.    Support for the Echoes Association Team for People of Determination in the International Lego Robotics Competition:
The United Bank supported the Echoes Association team for people of determination in the International Lego Robotics Competition. Three teams of people of determination (deaf and hard of hearing, and those with cochlear implants) won in the international competition.
15.    Annual Competition for Sponsoring Quran Memorizers:
The United Bank is keen to organize the annual competition for sponsoring Quran memorizers in 19 governorates across the Republic. It includes a comprehensive annual program to socially and academically support top Quran memorizers and present a complete model for educated youth who are knowledgeable about the rules and principles of their religion and Sharia.
16.    Participation in the Decent Life Initiative:
This involves developing and improving the Egyptian countryside in the villages of Nag'a Al-Gussour and Nag'a Sidna in Luxor Governorate, which included economic, social, and educational empowerment for the villagers, estimated at about 19,000 people.
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