Cairo, February 25, 2025- NU and CIB, Egypt’s leading private-sector bank, celebrated its first sustainable finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) graduation ceremony on February 25^th.Developed with the support of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), this specialization aims to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive in today’s competitive labor market in sustainable development and SME financing.

This initiative aligns with national strategic priorities. It also supports the growth and sustainability of SMEs by facilitating access to financial and non-financial advisory services. This partnership complements Egypt’s Vision 2030, the CBE’s Financial Inclusion Strategy (2022-2025), and CIB’s commitment to empowering SMEs. Furthermore, it underscores CIB’s long-standing commitment to fostering innovation in education in Egypt. This is done through partnering with leading academic institutions to enhance curricula in alignment with market demands and global trends. This remarkable achievement highlights the strength of partnerships between academia and industry, paving the way for a more sustainable financial future in Egypt.

In 2022, CIB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nile University to develop its first academic program specializing in sustainable finance for SMEs, under the auspices of the CBE.

The graduation ceremony took place at Nile University in the presence of the university's president, Professor Wael Akl, Mr. Sherif Lokman, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank for Financial Inclusion and Sustainability, alongside senior CIB officials.