Egypt is preparing to launch innovative financing solutions for its infrastructure projects following advanced consultations with the World Bank, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom announced during high-level meetings in the United States.
Rostom met with Katiana Kaelouri, the World Bank’s Senior Expert for Financial Development and Long-Term Finance, on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026) in New York to finalize the mechanisms for the upcoming infrastructure funding initiatives.
During his visit, Rostom also held talks with Pablo Saavedra, World Bank Vice President for Prosperity, and Sandeep Mahajan, Regional Director for Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa, to present the priorities of Egypt’s 2026/27 development plan and its 2026/27–2029/30 medium-term strategy, which was recently approved by the House of Representatives.
The newly approved economic blueprints target sustained economic growth, a higher ratio of private investments within the country’s total investment pool, the continued implementation of the “Decent Life” presidential initiative, the rollout of the comprehensive health insurance project, and increased spending on human capital.
“We are implementing a clear vision to upgrade the planning system, enhance the efficiency of public investments, and support economic reform efforts in Egypt,” Rostom said, explaining that the ministry’s participatory planning model aims to maximise the impact of development projects and create productive employment.
Rostom praised the long-standing strategic partnership with the World Bank group in support of “Egypt Vision 2030”, noting that the bank’s diagnostic reports and surveys provide deeper insights that back evidence-based decision-making across various economic sectors.
Addressing the country’s economic performance amidst ongoing global pressures, Rostom noted that the Egyptian economy has demonstrated resilience, achieving a growth rate of 5.1 per cent during the first nine months of the previous fiscal year. He emphasized that the government is focused on transitioning from economic stabilization to an active takeoff phase that directly improves living standards by capitalising on the economy’s structural potential.
The meetings were attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States Moataz Zahran, Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, the Executive Director for Egypt and the Arab Group at the World Bank, and Hisham Seif, the World Bank’s Alternate Executive Director.
