During a key session of the G20 Development Ministers’ Meetings—co-hosted by the African Union and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)—Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, laid out the country’s vision for accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa.
Dr. Al-Mashat previewed Egypt’s upcoming National Economic Development Narrative, a comprehensive framework that builds on years of structural reform and aims to shift the country toward more competitive, export-oriented sectors. Central to this vision is fostering stronger public-private partnerships, particularly in infrastructure projects, to stimulate local and foreign investment.
She emphasized that African nations continue to face significant fiscal constraints in financing development, particularly in infrastructure. In response, she called for international support to scale up industrialization, enhance productive capacities, diversify economies, and mobilize private-sector investments across the continent.
A key feature of Egypt’s approach is the NWFE platform (“Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy“), a country-led, investment-focused initiative that bridges climate finance and sustainable development goals. With strong support from multilateral and bilateral partners, NWFE is designed to move beyond climate commitments to tangible implementation—through project preparation, capacity-building, and stakeholder coordination.
Dr. Al-Mashat also spotlighted Egypt’s international role in advancing “fair finance” principles, as demonstrated during the COP27 Presidency and through the Sharm El-Sheikh Guidebook for Just Financing. Egypt has pioneered the use of innovative financing tools, such as debt-for-development swaps, to ease fiscal pressures while promoting sustainable investment.
Looking ahead, she reiterated Egypt’s commitment to building resilient institutions and integrated financing frameworks. Egypt was the first country in its region to launch a National Strategy for Integrated Development Financing, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. This strategy identifies funding gaps across seven priority sectors and develops a roadmap to close them through public, private, and international sources, including blended and innovative finance.
As African nations seek to unlock transformative growth, Egypt’s model offers a scalable and inclusive approach to aligning policy, finance, and partnership—positioning the country as a key regional actor in driving collective progress under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.
