SGBL Backs Women Entrepreneurship with 'Femme Francophone Entrepreneure' Competition

Under the patronage of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, and in the presence of caretaker Minister of State for Women's Affairs Jean Oghassabian, and Philippe Dubois, Deputy CEO of SGBL, AUF, Berytech, L’Orient-Le Jour, Le Commerce du Levant and SGBL held Thursday the final of the contest "Femme Francophone Entrepreneure" in its 7th edition, at the Campus of Innovation and Sport of Saint Joseph University - Beirut (USJ).

This initiative, which promotes the role of Lebanese women in entrepreneurship, highlighted the projects of five enthusiastic women selected by a first jury, regrouping representatives of the contest’s partners, in which SGBL was part. The five finalists pitched their projects during the final, in front of the public and a jury of experts. Following these presentations, the two winners, Maya Bacha, founder of Sidelick, an innovative pet-care service, and Marielle Khayat, founder of Koullouna, a company that ships a monthly box connecting Lebanon lovers and expats to the country from afar, shared a prize of € 20,000. They will both benefit as well from the necessary support and incubation granted by Berytech.

From her part, Joanna Baloglou, head of corporate communication at SGBL, said: "This project falls under our social responsibility strategy. We are constantly supporting the creation of start-ups and the development of women entrepreneurship in Lebanon. As a citizen and committed bank, SGBL supports many social responsibility initiatives on a daily basis, not forgetting our role as faithful partner of the country's francophone activities."