Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty inaugurated the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) on Tuesday, marking a new institutional phase aimed at expanding Cairo’s developmental role across Africa.
The meeting follows the official formation of the board, which Abdelatty described as a “foundational milestone” in the agency’s mission to project Egyptian influence through sustainable development and strategic partnerships. The minister stated that the move aligns with directives from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to activate national mechanisms that strengthen Egypt’s presence on the continent.
Abdelatty noted that the EAPD, originally announced by President Sisi during the 2014 African Union summit in Malabo, serves as a primary tool for regional stability. The new board composition includes a mix of political, economic, and diplomatic expertise designed to provide “effective strategic direction” and maximize the impact of the agency’s initiatives.
The board includes high-level officials and public figures, such as Central Bank of Egypt Governor Hassan Abdalla, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid, and former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab. Also serving on the board are Hala El-Said, Economic Advisor to the President; Mohamed El-Etreby, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Banks and CEO of National Bank of Egypt; and Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Other members include Sherif El-Gabaly, Chairman of the African Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, and Ambassador Nermin El-Zawahry, Assistant Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the EAPD.
Abdelatty highlighted that the inclusion of private sector representatives and business leaders is intended to foster “practical partnerships” and “innovative financing mechanisms.” He identified trade, investment, energy, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and irrigation as priority sectors for the agency’s transfer of expertise.
During the session, board members exchanged proposals to enhance capacity-building programmes and expand the agency’s reach. Abdelatty expressed confidence that the combined expertise of the board would solidify the EAPD’s position as a “key arm of Egyptian developmental diplomacy.”
