Dr Amany Asfour is an Egyptian economist and businesswoman.
Appointed in 2021 as the President of the African Business Council {AfBC), Dr Asfour leads the council which is an independent private-sector institution of the African Union.
The council established in 2007, promotes and advocates for the interests of the African private sector. It also has a primary role to fast-track intra-trade in African countries and boost the integration of AfCFTA.
Education
Dr Asfour graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Cairo University, proceeded to earn her master’s degree and M.D. in Paediatrics.
She is a lecturer of paediatrics at the National Research Center of Egypt.
She joined the private sector while a student and has within a few years being able to establish a company for medical equipment. It sells more than 30 different brands.
Leadership
Dr. Amany Asfour is a trailblazing Egyptian businesswoman and entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to empowering women and youth in Africa.
She is the President of the African Business Council (AfBC), the Chair of Trade Promotion Committee of the COMESA Business Council, and the Vice President of PAFTRAC, the Pan African Committee for Trade and Investment.
She is also the President of the African Alliance for Women Empowerment (AFRAWE), the Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA), and the Founder and Honorary President of Business and Professional Women-Egypt (BPW-Egypt).
Asfour is active in the African, Arab, and Mediterranean. She is credited with the formation of the Mediterranean Congress for Business and Professional Women which serves as a platform for sharing experiences and good practices among women entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean region.
Impact
Asfour is a recipient of several awards across the world notably in Egypt, Africa, and the Arab world.
She has established many partnerships with international and regional organizations, including UN Women, UNDP, ILO, UNIDO, the African Union, the European Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and different Mediterranean chambers of commerce.
She was also successful in implementing 2 large projects for establishing the Hatshepsut Business Women Development Center and a regional program for the support of female entrepreneurs in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
