Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, held a meeting with the World Bank delegation, led by Ms. Meskie Berhane, Regional Director for Sustainable Development in the Middle East and North Africa. The meeting, which also received Mr. Stefan Gembert, Regional Director for Egypt and Yemen, Mr. Laurent Dobreau, Sector Manager for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, and Ms. Maria Sarraf, Regional Director for Environmental Practices in the Middle East, focused on enhancing cooperation and reviewing the ongoing development projects between the two sides.
Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the deep-rooted relationship between Egypt and the World Bank, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration across various sectors, particularly in line with its efforts to develop sustainable and green infrastructure. She highlighted ongoing projects in vital areas such as transportation, renewable energy, and other sectors.
The Minister also shared insights into the government’s new program, which aims to foster a competitive economy that attracts investments.
In terms of the new framework within the Ministry, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the goal of achieving sustainable growth, with a focus on “qualitative growth” as a top priority. She explained that the framework relies on three key drivers: using data-driven policies to address sectoral development gaps, building an economy that is future-ready, and improving resource allocation. The framework will be implemented through multi-stakeholder engagement, supported by national coordination and international cooperation, including ministries, local governments, financial institutions, UN agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and think tanks.
The meeting also covered the ongoing cooperation with the World Bank Group, which spans various areas, including the Foreign Direct Investment Strategy, Industrial Development Strategy, and Trade Enhancement Strategy, all of which are currently being developed in coordination with the Ministry and national entities. These strategies are critical for improving the business environment and competitiveness, as well as attracting both local and foreign investments, with a focus on job creation and addressing macroeconomic issues.
Regarding ongoing and future projects with the World Bank, Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the environmental sector, including the Air Pollution Management project in Greater Cairo and Climate Change initiatives. She also mentioned future cooperation in the blue economy and technical support for national entities, as part of Egypt’s efforts to integrate environmental dimensions into its national development plans, thereby promoting sustainability and balancing development with climate action.
The discussion further explored cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank in the “NUWAAFI” program, as well as climate action and low-carbon development efforts. Additionally, the meeting addressed collaboration with the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), part of the World Bank Group, on the “Nature, People, and Climate” initiative, which focuses on leveraging funding for projects related to the National Platform for the NUWAAFI program.
The initiative will focus on key areas such as climate-smart agriculture, agricultural business and finance, coastal ecosystem management, and encouraging private sector involvement as a core component.
