A S U

The Faculty of Business at Ain Shams University officially welcomed H.E. Prof. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research. Prof. Farid Moharam El-Garhy, Dean of the Faculty, was at the forefront of those receiving the Minister.

The reception took place on the sidelines of a master’s thesis defense in Applied Statistics, hosted by the Faculty of Business on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The thesis, submitted by researcher Jumana Gamal Abdel Fattah Abdel Moneim, was entitled “A Statistical Model for Measuring the Factors Affecting the Profitability of Small and Micro Enterprises in Egypt.”

The examination and defense committee brought together distinguished academic and executive figures. It was chaired by Prof. Amr El-Etreby, Professor of Statistics at the Faculty and Vice President of Badr University, with H.E. Prof. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, and Dr. Waheed Maher, Associate Professor of Statistics and Acting Head of the Department at the Faculty, serving as committee members.

The defense was attended by a distinguished academic audience, including faculty members, teaching assistants, administrative researchers, as well as the researcher’s family and relatives.

Speaking during the defense, H.E. Prof. Sherif Farouk expressed his immense pride in being present at this “prestigious academic institution” at Ain Shams University. He also delivered a motivational message to young academics and teaching assistants at the faculty, describing them as the “deans of the future.”

His Excellency emphasized the importance of a strong sense of academic belonging, stressing that “no success is more rewarding than standing alongside colleagues, students, and professors.”

He further noted that supporting the small-enterprise sector is no longer a luxury but has become essential to the success of nations, citing the experience of major economies such as Germany. He also commended the researcher’s efforts and the value of the findings and recommendations presented in the study.

For his part, Prof. Farid Moharam El-Garhy, Dean of the Faculty, welcomed H.E. the Minister, describing him as “one of the leading figures of the Egyptian economy” and emphasizing that he represents “a key pillar and major supporter of Egypt’s national economic development.”

The Dean affirmed that the faculty takes great pride in H.E. the Minister as one of its distinguished alumni, noting that “Ain Shams Universitys Faculty of Business will always remain a hub for developing Egypt’s future statesmen and leaders in economics and politics.”

Prof. Amr El-Etreby, in turn, praised the pivotal role of the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade as a model of successful young leadership. He highlighted the Minister’s achievements at the Ministry, particularly in strengthening food security, developing the subsidy system, advancing digital transformation, attracting investment, and improving the business environment.

This dynamic academic discussion reflects the State’s commitment to linking scientific research outcomes with national economic priorities. The high-level official participation underscores Egypt’s vision of harnessing innovative academic research as a strategic tool to support decision-makers and advance the small and micro-enterprise sector.