MIFT Minister reviews a package of policies and executive programs to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of Egypt’s investment climate.
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh:
- The partnership with the IFC strengthens our capacity to further empower the private sector to lead economic activity.
- Comprehensive reforms have reinforced the resilience of the Egyptian economy in the face of regional conflicts and supported macroeconomic stability.
- We are developing joint financing mechanisms with the IFC to support expansion into Africa and promote trilateral cooperation models.
- Fiscal and monetary policies are consistent and flexible, and our investment policy will prioritize realism, feasibility, and measurability to attract investments in priority sectors.
- We are integrating technology as an enabling tool to enhance the competitiveness and openness of foreign trade, increase exports, and open new markets.
- Egypt possesses a broad network of trade agreements that position it as a hub for manufacturing and export.
- Transforming reality requires awareness, digitalization, and entrepreneurship within a flexible business environment that protects rights and enhances investment.
- Further promotion of investment frameworks, incentives, and golden licenses is underway to localize technology and deepen value-added industries in support of development priorities.
- Partnerships with international institutions enhance our capacity to finance development plans and programs and to stimulate a greater role for the private sector in the economy and employment.
Mr. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC):
- We reaffirm the IFC’s commitment to expanding its investments and providing technical support to Egypt’s private sector, strengthening its capacity for growth and expansion.
- Our priorities focus on financing projects in digital transformation, the green economy, and clean energy to support sustainable development efforts.
Within the framework of intensive diplomatic and economic engagements in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT Minister), participated in a high-level meeting with Mr. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in the presence of Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates; Dr. Hussein Eissa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development; and a number of IFC officials.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in Washington, explored avenues to deepen the strategic partnership and advance private sector investment as a primary driver of sustainable growth in Egypt.
Dr. Farid affirmed that the Egyptian government is moving forward with consistent economic and structural reforms aimed at empowering the private sector and enhancing its competitiveness as the main engine of economic growth. He noted that these reforms have contributed to strengthening macroeconomic stability and creating an attractive investment environment, including the adoption of a flexible exchange rate regime, the implementation and update of the State Ownership Policy Document, and continued progress on the government’s IPO program.
MIFT Minister explained that the current phase focuses on directing these reforms toward improving the investment climate and business environment through simplifying procedures, expanding digitalization of services, and offering targeted tax and customs incentives. These measures aim to reduce the time and cost of investment and boost investor confidence.
He also emphasized the importance of partnership with the IFC in supporting the private sector, particularly in priority sectors such as new and renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure, and digital transformation, expressing aspirations to expand cooperation to enhance investment flows and support sustainable development.
He outlined a package of executive tools being utilized to boost the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, including expanding investment frameworks, developing free zones and enhancing their export capacity, and making special investment zones that enable boards of directors to issue licenses and approvals directly and swiftly operational. These steps are expected to reduce approval timelines and accelerate implementation, alongside ongoing updates to the legislative framework governing investment in line with international best practices.
He also highlighted several priority investment opportunities for cooperation with the IFC, including the development and management of Egyptian airports in partnership with specialized global companies, support for investments in the tourism sector, and expansion in manufacturing and mining industries to enhance value-added and improve the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
Dr. Farid stressed that Egypt represents an integrated production and export platform and a key gateway to African markets, given its strategic location and trade agreements. He underscored the importance of developing joint financing mechanisms with the IFC to support expansion into Africa and strengthen trilateral cooperation models.
This comes as part of Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh’s participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., which include a series of intensive meetings with international financial institutions and major global corporations to explore opportunities for strengthening investment cooperation and attracting further investments to the Egyptian market.
On his part, Dr. Badr Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the vital role played by the IFC in supporting the private sector, highlighting the importance of building on the existing partnership to expand cooperation, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure, and healthcare, in a manner that contributes to attracting more foreign investment and enhancing macroeconomic stability.
He also pointed to the growing role of the Egyptian private sector in implementing development projects across the African continent, emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation with the IFC to support development efforts in African countries and promote regional economic integration.
In this context, Dr. Hussein Eissa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, stressed the government’s continued commitment to policies that empower the private sector and increase its contribution to economic activity, alongside adherence to the State Ownership Policy Document and the IPO program, thereby enhancing resource allocation efficiency and boosting private investment.
Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing the Economic Reform Program to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, improve the efficiency of economic resource management, and maximize their utilization.
Meanwhile, Mr. Makhtar Diop expressed his pride in the growing partnership with Egypt, reaffirming the IFC’s commitment to expanding its investments in the coming phase, alongside providing technical support to Egypt’s private sector to enhance its capacity for growth and expansion.
He added that the IFC will prioritize financing projects in digital transformation, the green economy, and clean energy, supporting the country’s sustainable development agenda and enhancing the attractiveness of the Egyptian market for investment.
