Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity and Chair of Nasser Social Bank, announced that the bank has joined "Tamkeen", the ministry's digital platform and umbrella framework for the services of the strategic financial system for economic empowerment.

The minister explained that the step aims to shift from social protection to production and empowerment by connecting the groups most in need of care who are able to work with an integrated package of services covering "financing, training, awareness, employment, marketing and insurance", in cooperation with government bodies, the banking sector, the private sector and civil society.

Dr. Maya Morsy said the platform has started receiving applications for micro-project financing from beneficiaries of the "Takaful and Karama" programme. Documents can be submitted at most Nasser Social Bank branches, as well as at all offices of the National Postal Authority across the governorates, making use of their wide geographic reach to make things easier for citizens.

She added that the launch of the "Launchpad to Economic Empowerment" product reflects the bank's commitment to offering accessible financing solutions that encourage owners of micro-projects, and those wishing to start one, to set up productive projects that bring economic and social stability.

For his part, Walid El-Nahhas, Vice Chairman of the bank, explained that the financing covers a variety of activities and projects that meet the needs of different groups. The loans include financing for agricultural, industrial, commercial and service projects, as well as home-based projects, giving beneficiaries wide flexibility to choose a suitable activity based on their abilities and market needs.

El-Nahhas stressed that obtaining financing requires only a few simple basic documents: a valid copy of the national ID card of the customer and the guarantor, a recent utility bill for the customer's residence, and a recent utility bill for the project premises; for home-based projects, the home utility bill is sufficient. A lease or ownership contract for the customer's residence and a lease or ownership contract for the project premises are also required. El-Nahhas noted that the customer must be at least 21 and no older than 60 when the financing is granted. The financing tenor ranges from one year up to a maximum of three years, depending on the nature of the project, with installments repaid monthly. The financing amount ranges from a minimum of EGP 5,000 to a maximum of EGP 30,000, depending on the project's needs and the debt burden ratio.