Women make up 40% of the workforce in the government’s modernization program in the oil and gas sector, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, said during a speech at the She Can Forum, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The minister highlighted the important role women play in both the Egyptian and global oil industry. He noted that women are employed throughout the industry and said that the government plans to appoint more women to leadership positions in the future.

The forum was organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Egypt. It was attended by, among others, the Head of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Ossama El Bakly; the Head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), Abed Ezz El Regal; the Head of Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Company (Ganope), Mohamed El Shimy; and the Ministry’s First Undersecretary, Mohamed Safaan.