Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in Brazil.
She held intensive meetings with Ministers of Economy, Development, and International Cooperation, along with officials from international financial institutions, to enhance joint cooperation in light of the government’s priorities and programs.
Al-Mashat held meetings with Mr. Ahmed Hussein, Canadian Minister of International Development; Ms. Eva Granados, Spanish State Secretary for International Cooperation; Ms. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation; Ms. Svenja Schulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development; Ms. Anneliese Dodds, UK Minister of State for Women and Equalities; Mr. José de Lima, Angolan State Secretary for the Economy; and Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, French State Secretary for Development Cooperation.
Moreover, the meetings focused on improving collaboration in various development areas, considering Egypt’s strong partnership with its development partners.
However, the Minister emphasized the government’s initiatives to carry out economic and structural reforms as part of the government’s program from 2024/2025 to 2026/2027. The goals include strengthening Egyptian citizens, improving social welfare through health initiatives, and empowering youth and women. Additionally, the program aims to develop a competitive economy that attracts investments by involving the private sector and enhancing macroeconomic stability.
Furthermore, Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the priorities under the G20 Development Working Group, which aims to reduce inequalities, enhance trilateral cooperation, and address challenges in financing climate change adaptation projects in the water sector. Given the significant challenges posed by the ongoing global crises since 2030, these priorities are seen as a strong driver to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
In other meetings, the Minister met with Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships; Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP); and Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Additionally, she met with Mr. Anil Kishora, Vice President and COO of the New Development Bank (NDB); ,nd Mr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
In these recent high-level meetings, H.E. Al-Mashat engaged in conversations centered on future collaboration opportunities with the European Union. The discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two sides and exploring ways to enhance investments through the investment guarantee mechanism currently in place. Additionally, there was an emphasis on reinforcing structural reform efforts. The Minister also highlighted the unwavering commitment of the state to support small-scale farmers and to drive agricultural and rural development. This was particularly significant in the context of the ongoing cooperation projects with the World Food Programme. Moreover, during her meeting with the Vice President of the New Development Bank, H.E. Al-Mashat conveyed Egypt’s keen interest in furthering cooperation with the bank, aligning with its priorities to champion development efforts in developing countries. She also expressed appreciation for the successful organization of the first New Development Bank forum that took place in Egypt in June.
