Dr. Gamal is the Executive Director of the Regional Enterprises Development Center (REDEC QENA) in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena, a poor and underdeveloped region of Egypt. REDEC works with the local community to provide financial and non-financial services to help support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and to provide programmatic support in the education and environmental sectors.
The institution has been operating for over twelve years, and one of the latest projects Dr. Gamal has launched introduces innovative technology to sugar-cane farmers in Upper Egypt to improve upon the primitive production of molasses syrup, "black honey," a popular condiment sold in the region. Using his scientific background, Dr. Gamal and his colleagues developed a prototype to replace the antiquated technology and produce black honey more efficiently.
This new technology will make better use of the profitable bi-products as organic fertilizer, and employ clean technology to prevent harmful carbon emissions from being released during the burning process. This prototype will have a multitude of economic and environmental benefits for the communities of sugar-cane farmers in Upper Egypt, whose centuries-old industry is threatened by competition from larger factory producers.
In developing this technology, Dr. Gamal has partnered with a network of international scientists to offer this technological innovation as a way to upgrade traditional agricultural practices, improve the molasses industry, provide a better product to consumers, and contribute to sustainable development in Upper Egypt.
In May 2009, Dr. Gamal and his organization opened a new black-honey production center in Qena that provides jobs and advances the production technology of black honey. Dr. Gamal has partnered with other NGOs and has begun working with sugarcane producers in India and Brazil to share research and industry knowledge. His team has produced a short documentary film about the black honey industry in Upper Egypt to raise awareness and advocacy for the black-honey industry and the rural communities of Upper Egypt.
To date, his initiatives have supported over 5,789 Upper Egyptians, improving the health and safety conditions of their working environment and offering income-generating opportunities, particularly for women and youth. Dr. Gamal's innovation will allow the Qena community to develop and expand their industry without harmful environmental impacts.
Recently, REDEC QENA has launched an agreement with the Egyptian Higher Ministry of Education to establish a local community college, to provide training to molasses-industry workers and traditional-handicraft artisans in Upper Egypt. This education initiative will provide educational opportunities to 15,000 women and 13,200 youth, advancing their trades and their livelihoods. Moreover, REDEC QENA signed an agreement to help thirty-six NGOs in the Qena governorate to establish eighty kindergartens to support early childhood education.
To Contact Dr Gamal:
gamalkamal24@yahoo.com
Tel: +20 (0) 5331350