African Physics Letters (Pure Science) | 26 November 2010
Microfinance and Entrepreneurship among Cairo's Self-Employed Women in Industrial Zones,
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Abstract
Microfinance interventions have been implemented in various urban settings to support self-employed women entrepreneurs, particularly in industrial zones where employment opportunities are limited. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative survey data collected from a sample of 150 women entrepreneurs across five industrial zones in Cairo. The analysis revealed that microfinance provided by financial institutions had a significant positive impact on the business activities and growth prospects of self-employed women (p < 0.05). Microfinance significantly enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities for self-employed women, particularly those operating in industrial zones. Policy makers should consider expanding microfinance programmes targeting industrial areas to increase economic empowerment among women entrepreneurs. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.