Qalaa Holdings (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Exchange), an African leader in energy and infrastructure, was recently chosen as one of Egypt’s top 100 companies listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). Pakinam Kafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia, Qalaa’s energy sector subsidiary, and Ghada Hammouda, Qalaa’s Chief Marketing Officer, were also named among Egypt’s 50 most influential women of 2016.
At the award ceremony held under the patronage of H.E. Sherif Ismail, the Prime Minister of Egypt, Qalaa Holdings Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hisham El-Khazindar said, “We are honoured to be recognised today among the top 100 Egyptian companies but I am even more honoured that two of the 50 women recognised today are Qalaa Holdings’ senior executives Pakinam Kafafi and Ghada Hammouda, both of whom serve as role models to women and men alike.”
Kafafi and Hammouda were part of an illustrious list of leading Egyptian women who are active in diverse sectors of the economy such as banking, industry, energy, marketing, real estate, telecommunications, entrepreneurship and public service.
H.E. Dalia Khorshid, Minister of Investment and H.E. Ambassador Moushira Khattab, former Minister of Family and Population and former Head of the National Council for Women were also among the women hounoured at the high-profile ceremony that was attended by leading government officials including H.E. Mohamed Al Assar, Minister of Military Production, H.E. Tarek Kabil, Minister of Trade and Industry, H.E Ghada Waley, Minister of Social Solidarity, and H.E.
Ambassador Nabila Makram Ebeid, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, along with leading members of the Egyptian business community and the diplomatic corps.
“I am truly honored by this award, which further strengthens my sense of duty and responsibility vis-à-vis other aspiring women with careers, and towards our country” said Kafafi. Kafafi’s successful professional career has been diverse; prior to assuming the role of CEO of TAQA Arabia she held positions including Vice-President of Investment Banking at EFG-Hermes and Investment Director at a leading national gas company.
“Egyptian women in business have made great progress over the years. I’m extremely proud to be chosen as a role model showing that women can balance and succeed, and to be part of a company that recognizes the importance and value of having women hold seats on boards and occupy senior positions,” said Hammouda.
“Egypt still ranks 132nd in the Global Gender Gap ratings and 118th out of 187 in the UNDP’s Gender Equality Index. Improving our rankings will require collaboration and commitment to create an enabling legal, educational, social and cultural framework that will ensure the full and effective participation of women and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels without jeopardizing the position of women as family caretakers and various other roles,” she added.
Hammouda is an active champion of women’s issues in Egypt. She has also worked tirelessly in the field of sustainable development and has been a vocal advocate for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) within the Egyptian business community and Africa.
