Ahmed Moustafa writes:
The difference between start-ups and small enterprises:
The pressing question for us has always been, Is “Asia Center for Studies and Translation”, which is a relatively new center that we established in 2017, as observers know, considered a startup?
So you had to know through economics about the answer to this important question – because there is always confusion between startups and small and medium enterprises.
Startups are projects based on ideas that are characterized by innovative thinking and the creation of a service or a commodity that did not previously exist that has a social return, to facilitate economic relations in society between its members, especially in densely populated societies such as Egypt, for example.
As for the small project: it is working on an idea that has been previously used or has a need in a specific geographical area.
Accordingly, it is clear that the project of the Asia Center for Studies and Translation presented an unprecedented idea by building bridges to get to know Asia and the East in general to correct the concepts and that the current world is not only America or Europe (against the current,) and the incentive for that was the cultural and economic rapprochement between Asia, the promising continent that has the global economic powers e.g. (China – Japan – South Korea – Russia ASEAN – Pakistan – India – Iran – Turkey) and the South represented by Egypt, the Arab region and Africa.
As well as the acceptance of its project (Eye on the East) by (Al-Ahram Gate – the largest in the region) by conducting an interview with the best experts specializing in the affairs of the South and the East/Orient, which is part of the qualitative method of the scientific research. And is considered a certificate of credibility from a major partner such as AlAhram Establishment. It is also one of the elements of startups, as it is adopted by major institutions.
Also, the continuity of the project and the common desire for renewal for the coming years as a result of the turnout and viewership of the project link through the Al-Ahram portal, as the number of followers via Google reached about 2,150,000 followers within 12 months, which was not believed by the management of Al-Ahram Gate.
Brief information about startups in Egypt:
Where Egypt comes first in Africa, with startups volume that reached about 700, employing about 46,000 young people, with a business value of $1.5 billion, according to the statistics of the Egyptian Ministry of Planning. There are still many opportunities available, as Africa only gets 1% of the total financing. of startups around the world.
The Japanese Embassy, in cooperation with the Japanese JETRO Organization in Egypt, hosts (Asia Africa for Investment and Consulting) to finance Egyptian start-up projects:
It is our pleasure to receive an invitation from the media advisor of the Japanese Embassy, Dr. Mohamed Fathy, to attend and cover this event that was organized on the Greek campus of the American University, which is one of the most important business incubators in Egypt, in downtown Cairo, yesterday, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, where it was arranged to review a number (10 Successful Egyptian Start-up Projects) in the presence of the Investment Director of the Asia Africa Group for Investment and Consulting, Mr. Shigeru Handa.
Interview with Mr. Handa – Investment Manager in Asia Africa for Investment and Consulting:
According to a quick interview we conducted with Mr. Shigeru Handa, after he discussed the reasons for interest in financing startups in Africa and Egypt in particular. As well as the interesting presentation of startups, whose ideas ranged from (sites for selling handicrafts from Egypt, lending, advertising, financing, and maintenance, as well as waste treatment and exploitation applications).
Mr. Handa stated that Egypt is an important step for him in investing and financing this type of emerging project, and he referred to the statistics mentioned above in this regard, and of course, he talked about Egypt’s strategic location and the level of infrastructure compared to other African countries. As well as the level of communication, which is superior to its counterparts in Africa.
Important statistics and facts about startups in Japan:
It is worth noting that Statista, the largest American website in economic statistics, indicated that Japan itself lost about 700 start-up companies between 2018-2022 out of a total of 2915 companies due to the Corona epidemic crisis and lack of preparation or setting scenarios of resistance to coercive forces such as pandemics, financial recession, and wars. Of course, that already is currently affecting the world.
It is also nice that Asia Africa Investment and Consulting has branches in major competing countries, such as its branch in Shanghai, the major global financial Chinese city, as well as in India, although perhaps the volume of emerging projects in each of them doubles that of Japan.
This gives a good impression that in the field of business and economic interests, there is no significant political influence on countries.
At the end of the symposium – the attendees got to know each other closely for the possibility of networking and obtaining greater and greater cooperation between all the participating parties, and this is one of the goals of this gathering.
To Conclude,,,,
This forum confirms that the Egyptian youth is good and well, has an economic vision, and creates opportunities for itself.
The only issue is low economic awareness, and unfortunately, the poor teaching of economics, management, and decision-making in universities, which we recommend at the present time should be taught professionally from the early stages of education because education in its current state is in a deplorable theoretical situation completely separate from what the market wants, and it is a global phenomenon that is not limited to certain countries.
When we start even with the younger generations to talk about the importance of saving – the importance of building funds in classes from student money even if it is small amounts – the importance of crowdfunding – directing this funding to do something useful for students through games and simulation models – I think that these things will bear fruit on origination in the future. So that we will have a generation that thinks differently and is armed with what the labor market wants and does not become the goal of its dreams waiting for a job.
One of the important things that happened with us is the negotiations that are taking place with one of the major Russian universities, which represents (Silicon Valley) in Moscow. As it is looking for a serious partnership in the Arab region and the south because it is a promising region and absorbs a number of major players in this field. The fact that Russian relations with the West have become tense in light of the Ukrainian crisis.
Accordingly – it will be a good opportunity for Egypt to cooperate with more than one Japanese and Russian investment capital, and perhaps in the future Korean, Chinese, Indian, and Turkish – and this requires us to make some efforts to obtain the best venture capital interested in startups.
Please be guided accordingly,,,,
Ahmed Moustafa
Director of Asia Center for Studies and Translation
The Producer of (Eye on the Orient) in collaboration with Al-Ahram Gate
Master holder in political economy and Russian studies – HSE Moscow
Author of (China, German & Russia: A New World Order)
Cellphone: +201009229411
