ALEXBANK Main Sponsor of the International Handicrafts Show (IHS) through its CSR initiative “Ebda3 Men Masr”

Cairo – Nov 19th , 2016 – ALEXBANK takes part in the International Handicrafts Show (IHS) as the official sponsor and main partner. This is through its recently launched initiative named “Ebda3 Men Masr”, a late 2015 idea that evolved as one of the main CSR platforms of ALEXBANK based on the concept of Creating Shared Value (CSV) by which the Bank becomes a full-fledged partner of citizens and communities blending the creation of social value with the growth of the economy. The (IHS) will be held for the first time in Egypt in the period of November 18th -25th at the Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Center, Nasr City. The IHS aims to create opportunities for marketing, trade exchange and direct sales of Egyptian handicrafts, promoting the economic growth and tourism appeal.
ALEXBANK participates as a main exhibitor with a dedicated space to showcase “Ebda3 men Masr” inspiring artisans and craftsmen works. In the same space will be also hosted the craftsmen supported by both Fair Trade Egypt and  Egyptian Network for Integrated Development “El Nidaa” - Alexbank’s strategic partners  - in addition to the special participation of “Yadewaya” – a social enterprise for handcrafts’ development in Egypt.
Also furthering the government’s goal of improving financial inclusion for entrepreneurs and small business and decrease cash circulation, ALEXBANK has  engaged with over 20 leading participants and exhibitors to enable them to accept card payments via ALEXBANK’s dedicated POS solution, for which ALEXBANK will be waiving all commissions for any transaction during IHS, and will provide favorable rates for their business post the exhibition.
ALEXBANK will also favor the business development making available to craftsmen, artisans and International buyers an innovative business center located in the Forum Area, providing for free WIFI, copiers, scanners, laptops and tablets through which its innovative suite of mobile applications and digital banking solutions will be also accessible. Dante Campioni, Managing Director & CEO of ALEXBANK, affirms: 
“ALEXBANK’s sponsorship and participation at the International Handicraft Show reflects the definitive affirmation of the “Ebda3 men Masr” concept, whose aim is to empower localized communities contributing to the preservation of Egyptian crafts and original artworks’ heritage, by improving their connections with the open markets”.
“We want to support skillful Egyptian artisans to increase their entrepreneurial opportunities, enabling them to deliver to the market the beauty of their original handcrafts, expression of century-old traditions that can be certainly appreciated not only domestically but internationally as well”.
“Ebda3 Men Masr” is core to ALEXBANK’s CSR strategy and aims to promote a collective movement of partnerships and collaboration between institutions, NGOs, governmental entities as well as individuals, to pursue sustainable development and employability by making the expressions of Egyptian tradition to become additional engine of development for the Egyptian economy” Campioni added.