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POSITIVE ATTITUDES EMERGE TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EGYPT ' S POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY
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ground-breaking study conducted by QNET and Nielsen IQ has found that most Egyptians hold favourable attitudes toward entrepreneurship in the post-pandemic economy . Most also believe the direct selling model provides advantages to starting a business and earning extra income .
A willingness among Egyptians to engage in entrepreneurship is a positive sign for the country , as other studies have suggested that entrepreneurship could be a significant driver of economic growth throughout the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA ) region , where women and youth – though well-educated – struggle with high levels of unemployment .
The Nielsen study , which interviewed 1,121 respondents from across Egypt , found that most associate entrepreneurship with concepts such as freedom , being your own boss and earning a high income .
A growing desire for independence and flexibility drives this positive perception , as many identified these as primary motivators for becoming an entrepreneur . At the same time , they also noted financial risk as a significant barrier .
More than half the respondents cited online businesses as an example of entrepreneurial activity and 45 % believe COVID-19 increased opportunities for online entrepreneurs in Egypt .
This reflects the experience of many others around the world during the lockdowns . When bricks-and-mortar stores were forced to close , e-commerce-based businesses experienced a boom globally , as more people went online to purchase the goods and services they needed .
Advances in mobile technology and the growth of online businesses are creating more income earning opportunities in Egypt and other MENA countries . The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development found that online business processes , such as social commerce and mobile phone payment systems , are lowering barriers to entrepreneurship in the MENA region , particularly for women .
The availability of more income-earning opportunities could be changing how Egyptians view their employment . The Nielsen study revealed a broad approval among Egyptians of having a ‘ side job ’ – in addition to their primary employment – to earn supplemental income .
Again , the attitude among Egyptians is consistent with the global trend , particularly with the growth of the gig economy , in which people use online platforms to sell products and services to earn extra income in their spare time .
According to the Nielsen study , direct selling ranked as the most common activity mentioned by Egyptians who currently have or have had a side job . Of these respondents , 78 % said having a side job was a good source of extra income , 45 % claimed it provided them with new experiences and 40 % mentioned it increased their self-confidence . x
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