The Egyptian Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania A. Al-Mashat, held a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Development Partners Group (DPG) in Egypt.
The committee, co-chaired by UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova and EU Head of Cooperation Sophie Vanhaeverbeke, includes representatives from international institutions and embassies from France, Germany, Canada, Japan, the UK, the World Bank, and the French Development Agency.
The meeting focused on aligning development cooperation with Egypt’s national priorities and Vision 2030, especially amid declining global development financing. Participants discussed the importance of maximizing the impact of available resources and intensifying strategic coordination between development partners and the Egyptian government to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed Egypt’s commitment to developing innovative mechanisms of joint cooperation to drive private sector-led economic growth and promote sustainable development. She emphasized that the Development Partners Group is a vital platform to coordinate programs, prevent duplication, and ensure efforts are directed toward national priorities. The government seeks to rely more on blended finance, leverage private investment, and diversify funding sources to reduce dependency on traditional development assistance.
The Minister also highlighted Egypt’s expanded strategy for mobilizing development finance through the Ministry’s framework "Sustainability and Financing for Economic Development," which prioritizes evidence-based policies, a stronger private sector role, and economic competitiveness. This framework is designed to improve the business climate, encourage export-led growth, and promote regional economic integration.
Central to Egypt’s long-term strategy is the Integrated National Financing Strategy (E-INFS), which identifies financing gaps and promotes partnerships to channel resources into critical sectors like healthcare, education, sanitation, and social protection. These efforts also aim to increase access to green finance and investment in climate adaptation projects.
Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that localizing the SDGs is a strategic priority. With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Egypt has developed governorate-level reports to map regional strengths and development needs, enhancing policy alignment and improving service delivery across the country.
The meeting also addressed labor market dynamics and the importance of creating a balanced legal environment for both workers and employers. Dr. Al-Mashat underlined the Ministry's coordination with the National Wages Council and the Ministry of Labor to ensure inclusive growth and job creation.
As Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship, the Minister discussed ongoing efforts to support startups and innovation in priority sectors such as ICT. She emphasized that entrepreneurship is a key pillar for long-term growth and a catalyst for competitiveness.
On environmental sustainability, Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to climate resilience. The Ministry is working with development partners to finance green initiatives, reduce emissions, and build institutional capacity to respond to climate change. These efforts are also essential to securing climate finance and supporting Egypt’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The strong turnout and high-level engagement reflect the international community’s recognition of Egypt’s pivotal role in the region and its continued commitment to joint development efforts. The meeting ended with a shared vision for deeper collaboration and sustained dialogue to ensure impactful and inclusive economic progress.
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