Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, held high-level talks with Anshula Kant, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank Group, to explore opportunities for strengthening development cooperation and expanding joint partnerships. The meeting took place at the ministry’s headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, in the presence of Stefan G. G. Gebregziabher, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, and Cheikh Oumar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, alongside a World Bank delegation.
Advancing Egypt’s National Economic Narrative
During the discussions, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing its strategic partnership with the World Bank to advance Egypt’s economic and social development priorities. This includes accelerating fiscal and structural reforms, promoting private sector participation, and channeling more investment into the green transition, in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
She highlighted the launch of the National Narrative for Economic Development, a comprehensive framework aligning government programs with regional and global shifts. The narrative builds on over a decade of reforms and large-scale infrastructure investments in transportation, energy, ports, and smart mobility—foundations that have strengthened Egypt’s economic resilience and competitiveness.
“The narrative represents the next stage of Egypt’s reform journey, focused on diversifying the production structure, expanding exports, rationalizing imports, and enabling the private sector through the State Ownership Policy and competition law,” Al-Mashat said.
Fiscal Discipline and Investment Governance
Dr. Al-Mashat outlined the targets of the current fiscal year’s Economic and Social Development Plan, noting that the government is committed to fiscal discipline to reduce the budget deficit while capping public investment spending at EGP 1.16 trillion. This ceiling, she explained, ensures sound governance of state investments, maintains the downward trajectory of public debt, and safeguards macroeconomic stability.
She added that proceeds from Egypt’s asset monetization program will be used to further stimulate private sector participation and enhance economic productivity.
Egypt: One of the Largest World Bank Portfolios in MENA
The minister noted that Egypt maintains one of the largest World Bank portfolios in the Middle East and North Africa, including:
More than $6 billion in IBRD commitments across 13 projects.
An IFC portfolio exceeding $2 billion.
Around $700 million in MIGA guarantees supporting investments in energy and logistics.
This diversified portfolio, she stressed, demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to broad-based development partnerships and leveraging international support for transformative projects.
Towards green taxation
For her part, Anshula Kant affirmed the World Bank Group’s support for Egypt’s reform agenda. She highlighted initiatives such as the Financial Facilitation Incentives (FFI) framework, launched in 2025, and debt-for-development swaps, which direct additional resources toward education, health, and environmental protection.
She also emphasized the importance of green taxation, with Egypt’s national strategy expected to be launched by December 2025, alongside expanded public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive sustainable investment.
Catalyzing Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming that the partnership between Egypt and the World Bank is a cornerstone for advancing national priorities, scaling up green and productive sector investments, and ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth.
“International cooperation remains vital for mobilizing resources, building resilience, and achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063,” Dr. Al-Mashat said.
