H.E. Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation participates in the 2025 Regional Workshop of the Arab Debt Management Group organized by ESCWA

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: We are working to sustain real economic growth through continuous reforms that outpace the cost of borrowing.

Egypt’s economic growth exceeded 5% in the last quarter, with strong expectations through the end of the fiscal year.

The cap on public investments improves debt dynamics and enhances the efficient allocation of resources.

Egypt welcomes hosting the Borrowers’ Club as a platform for South–South knowledge exchange among debtor countries.

The “NWFE” Program stands as a model national platform using blended and innovative finance to mobilize private-sector investment.

Expansion of debt-swap mechanisms redirects financial commitments toward priority development projects.

The Integrated National Financing Strategy incorporates diverse and innovative financing tools to mobilize resources and accelerate development.

Education, health, and social protection are key priorities within the Integrated National Financing Strategy.

Egypt calls on the international community to scale up blended finance mechanisms to increase private-sector investment.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in the 2025 Regional Workshop of the Arab Debt Management Group, held on 8–9 December and organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The workshop convenes policymakers and debt-management experts to discuss strengthening debt sustainability, developing local capital markets, and expanding access to innovative financing instruments—including bonds and debt swaps—while following up on regional priorities after the Financing for Development Conference.

In her remarks, delivered via video, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized that Egypt is pursuing a clear and structured approach to maintaining real economic growth through ongoing economic reforms that outpace the cost of borrowing. She noted that growth exceeded 5% in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with projections indicating continued strong performance through year-end.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted the expansion of debt-for-development and debt-for-climate swaps with Germany, Italy, and China, which allow the redirection of financial commitments toward priority sectors such as health, education, and green investments. She stressed that the government’s cap on public investments has had a positive impact on debt levels and has strengthened the efficient allocation of national resources.

The Minister affirmed Egypt’s leadership in green finance, noting the issuance of the country’s first sovereign green bond worth USD 750 million. She added that the national platform for the NWFE Program reflects Egypt’s commitment to blended and innovative finance, particularly in mobilizing climate-related investments. Through this platform, Egypt successfully mobilized approximately USD 5 billion in private-sector financing for renewable energy projects, positioning NWFE as a global model for national platforms leveraging blended and innovative finance.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also addressed the launch of the Integrated National Financing Strategy, which incorporates a broad range of innovative financing tools to mobilize domestic and external development finance. The strategy prioritizes key sectors—including education, health, social protection, women’s empowerment, and water—as central pillars for accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Minister called on international financial institutions and the global community to expand blended finance mechanisms in order to enhance private-sector investment, especially in developing and emerging economies.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated Egypt’s readiness to host the “Borrowers’ Club,” proposed during the Financing for Development Conference in Seville, as a platform for sharing expertise and best practices among debtor countries and coordinating joint efforts to strengthen sustainable debt management.