Dr. Rania Al Mashat has been appointed as the New Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ministry along with the International Cooperation Ministry amid their merge this election round to become Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
Al Mashat’s professional background includes serving as the Minister of International Cooperation and former Minister of Tourism in Egypt. Additionally, she has previously worked as an adviser to the Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.
Her areas of expertise encompass central banking issues, such as designing monetary policy frameworks, defining financial stability and macro-prudential tools, and leading country mission teams on these critical matters.
She has contributed chapters to the IMF’s “Advancing the Frontiers of Monetary Policy” (2018). Previously, she held the position of Sub-Governor for Monetary Policy at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and worked as a Senior Economist at the IMF.
The minister also served as Deputy Project Director at the Institutional Reform and Informal Sector Center at the University of Maryland and held the position of Adjunct Professor of Economics at the American University in Cairo. Additionally, she was a former Member of the Board at the Arab Investment Bank.
Dr. Al-Mashat has been the recipient of several international and domestic awards. These include the “2022 Most Visionary and Outstanding Minister of International Cooperation in Africa” by the Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University and the GE7 Initiative. She also received the “2019 Global Champion Award” from the World Tourism and Travel Council for launching the Egypt—Tourism Reform Program, which has significantly strengthened the sector.
Moreover, she was honored with the “2019 Global Leader’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” as Egypt’s tourism revenues reached a new historical high. Additionally, Madam Al-Mashat received the “2019 United Nations World Tourism Organization Destination Marketing Award” for the best promotion video for a destination.
In recognition of her influence and leadership in the Egyptian economy, she was chosen as one of the top 50 most influential women in the Egyptian economy in 2015 & 2020.
Al-Mashat was further selected for the “Choiseul Institute 100 Africa: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow” award in 2014 & 2015, as well as the 2014 Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Her accomplishments also include being recognized as one of the 2014 top 10 most powerful women in the Egyptian Banking Sector in a survey conducted by the Bassera Center and being selected by the Government of France’s 2013 International Visitor Leadership Program.
We extend our best wishes to Al Mashat for a successful start in her new role from the top50 Women Forum.
Written by Reem Ahmed
