Planning minister presents Egypt’s vision in Madrid to attract investment, strengthen development partnerships

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom presented Egypt’s development vision and efforts to attract investment and strengthen development partnerships during a panel discussion at the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Dialogue in Madrid, Spain. The session, entitled “Country Platforms in Practice: From National Priorities to Bankable and Investable Project Pipelines”, was attended by Ehab Badawy, Egypt’s Ambassador to Spain.

In his remarks, Rostom said the main challenge facing global development efforts was no longer limited to a shortage of capital, but also involved implementation and the ability to bridge the gap between national visions and pipelines of investment-ready projects. He explained that a country’s ability to attract financing depended on translating its priorities into projects that appeal to the private sector and are capable of securing funding.

Rostom noted that the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development had restructured its approach to public investment management to ensure greater efficiency and transparency. The reforms include integrating advanced digital systems for real-time project monitoring, helping direct public resources towards attracting financing and encouraging private-sector participation. These efforts are intended to accelerate project implementation, improve public services and create new jobs, he said.

Turning to practical solutions, Rostom outlined Egypt’s Infrastructure Finance Guarantee Facility (IFGF), developed in partnership with the World Bank Group.

“The facility provides a strategic platform for addressing market and structural risks, encouraging domestic financial institutions and investors to participate in vital projects,” Rostom said, citing renewable energy, water desalination and sustainable urban development as key areas for investment.

The government has given these projects high priority, in line with directives from the political leadership to complete the facility’s establishment and launch it swiftly during Egypt Forum 2026, he added.

Rostom also said the facility would provide early-stage support for project preparation and strengthen creditworthiness, sending a clear signal to international financial institutions that Egypt’s development priorities are underpinned by robust and stable financial structures.

Concluding his remarks, the minister invited the investment arms of development partners and multilateral development banks to provide flexible support for national platforms, including through blended finance instruments and mechanisms that enable financing in local currency to reduce exposure to exchange-rate volatility.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to creating a transparent and attractive investment environment for global capital.