On the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, held high-level discussions with global development leaders to reinforce international cooperation and sustainable development strategies.
Dr. Al-Mashat met with Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), as part of Egypt’s active participation in the conference held in Spain from June 29 to July 3, 2025. The Egyptian delegation is headed by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Elevating Egypt-UNCTAD Cooperation
In her meeting with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized Egypt’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the UN body. The discussions focused on enhancing joint efforts in economic development, trade facilitation, and foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies.
Dr. Al-Mashat commended UNCTAD’s collaboration in the production of the Global Investment Report 2024, which she noted plays a pivotal role in showcasing Egypt’s growing attractiveness to global investors. “The report has been instrumental in highlighting the progress Egypt has made in economic reform and our evolving role as a leading destination for investment,” she said.
The bilateral talks also explored mechanisms for leveraging UNCTAD’s analytical tools to evaluate the impacts of development policies and refine strategies for promoting trade and inclusive economic growth.
Driving Human Capital Investment with OPHI
In a separate high-level meeting, Dr. Al-Mashat held strategic discussions with Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI and a renowned economist at Oxford University. The meeting centered on Egypt’s initiatives to invest in human capital as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Both parties highlighted the importance of robust data tools such as the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)—a key metric co-developed by OPHI and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The MPI evaluates poverty beyond income-based measures, examining deprivations across seven core dimensions: education, health, employment, basic services, social protection, and food security.
Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated Egypt’s commitment to using data-driven approaches to identify vulnerabilities and design inclusive policies that uplift living standards and foster long-term economic resilience. “Human development is at the core of our Vision 2030 strategy,” she noted.
Advancing Egypt’s Vision 2030
The Minister’s engagements with UNCTAD and OPHI leaders reflect Egypt’s strategic approach to sustainable development through multilateral collaboration. These meetings underscore the nation’s pursuit of evidence-based policymaking, international cooperation, and investment in both physical and human capital as essential pillars of Egypt’s development roadmap.
