Al Ahram Beverages launches ‘Makanek’ initiative to boost women’s participation in supply chain, technical roles in Egypt
The initiative marks a milestone with Egypt’s first certified female forklift drivers joining ABC’s supply chain workforce.
EGYPT – Al Ahram Beverages Company (ABC) has launched “Makanek,” a company-wide initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation in technical and supply chain careers across its operations, as part of its broader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy.
The launch coincides with a milestone for the Egyptian beverage sector, as ABC welcomed the country’s first two officially certified female forklift drivers into its Sharkia Plant workforce.
The achievement highlights the company’s efforts to open opportunities for women in roles traditionally dominated by men and to embed inclusion across operational functions.
Since 2023, ABC has more than doubled the number of women employed in supply chain roles, reflecting a deliberate focus on building inclusive career pathways and strengthening female representation in technical fields.
The company said the progress aligns with its long-term objective of integrating diversity and equity at all organisational levels.
The two newly certified forklift drivers completed their training through the Heavy Equipment Training Center in 10th of Ramadan City, which operates under the Central Agency for Reconstruction within the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities.
The certification followed rigorous technical and safety standards. ABC fully funded the training, accreditation and support required to ensure compliance with national certification requirements.
The new certifications add to a growing number of women working in ABC’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related supply chain roles. These include positions in maintenance planning, laboratory analysis and quality control, operations management and plant leadership, reflecting a broader shift toward embedding technical expertise and gender inclusion within the company’s workforce.
Nikolay Mladenov, managing director of Al Ahram Beverages Company, said the initiative represents a step toward redefining career possibilities within the organisation.
He noted that women now account for more than half of ABC’s management team and said the company is focused on creating an environment where talent development, empowerment and inclusion support long-term business growth.
Nashwa Sabry, people and culture director at ABC, said initiatives such as Makanek demonstrate how the company translates its values into action. She added that ABC remains committed to enabling women to succeed in both technical and leadership roles, a focus that has contributed to the company receiving Top Employer recognition for three consecutive years.
Beyond its internal workforce, ABC supports women’s economic empowerment through external partnerships. Through its collaboration with Orange Corners Egypt, the company has supported more than 250 entrepreneurs and 140 startups over two years, with women representing half of the beneficiaries. Many of these ventures focus on environmental, technological and agricultural solutions.
ABC also partners with the Gozour Foundation through its Salil programme, which supports women-led small businesses in underserved communities by enhancing employability skills and vocational training.
Together, Makanek and these partnerships reflect ABC’s wider mission to expand opportunities for women to enter, develop and lead within technical and economic sectors across Egypt.
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