Egypt’s planning minister met senior officials from the World Bank to discuss expanding cooperation in support of the country’s national development agenda, with talks focusing on public investment efficiency, structural reforms and social protection.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom held discussions with a delegation led by Stéphane Guimbert, country director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti at the World Bank, alongside the Bank’s Cairo-based team, according to a statement released late Sunday.
The meeting centred on strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and the World Bank, particularly through technical support for the country’s annual development plan and a three-year medium-term framework currently under preparation.
Rostom underscored the importance of coordination with international financial institutions, highlighting cooperation between the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government bodies to accelerate structural reforms and maximise the benefits of development partnerships.
He said the government’s priority is to place “the Egyptian citizen at the heart of the development process,” noting that the updated strategy seeks to reprioritise public investments to improve spending efficiency and deliver measurable social returns.
The minister added that Egypt is seeking to stimulate economic clusters capable of generating employment, while reinforcing fiscal discipline. These efforts, he said, are designed to strengthen social protection frameworks, particularly the Takaful and Karama cash transfer programme targeting vulnerable households.
Rostom also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the presidential “Decent Life” rural development initiative, aimed at improving infrastructure and living standards in underserved areas, with upcoming phases set to be accelerated in line with directives from the country’s leadership.
Guimbert said the World Bank would continue providing technical assistance across priority areas, including public expenditure reviews, domestic resource mobilisation and support for a sound medium-term fiscal framework.
He added that cooperation would extend to social protection and health reforms, including analytical support for Egypt’s comprehensive health insurance system, as well as efforts to strengthen economic resilience by developing and managing growth-oriented clusters to create jobs.
Egypt has in recent years deepened engagement with multilateral lenders as part of broader reform efforts aimed at stabilising the economy, enhancing governance and promoting sustainable growth. Officials say international partnerships remain central to advancing structural reforms while safeguarding social spending.
Egypt has maintained a long-standing partnership with the World Bank, which has been one of its key multilateral development partners for decades. The cooperation spans infrastructure, social protection, health, education, energy reform and public financial management, with a focus on supporting economic stability and inclusive growth.
In recent years, Egypt has intensified engagement with international financial institutions as part of broader reform efforts aimed at stabilising the macroeconomy, strengthening fiscal discipline and promoting private sector–led growth. These reforms have included subsidy restructuring, exchange rate adjustments and measures to improve public investment efficiency.
Public investment management has become a central policy focus. Authorities have sought to prioritise projects with higher economic and social returns, streamline capital spending and improve monitoring mechanisms. Enhancing the efficiency of public expenditure is viewed as essential to reducing fiscal pressures while sustaining growth and job creation.
Social protection remains a cornerstone of Egypt’s development strategy. The government’s Takaful and Karama cash transfer programme, launched in 2015, provides targeted financial assistance to low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The programme has received technical and financial backing from the World Bank and is considered one of the largest social safety net initiatives in the region.
Egypt has also expanded rural development efforts through the “Decent Life” (Haya Karima) initiative, a multi-phase national programme aimed at improving infrastructure, housing, sanitation, healthcare and education services in underserved villages. The initiative is designed to reduce regional disparities and enhance living standards across rural governorates.
In the health sector, the government is rolling out a comprehensive health insurance system intended to achieve universal coverage over several phases. The reform seeks to improve service quality, ensure financial sustainability and expand access to healthcare, with technical support from international partners.
Economic diversification and job creation are further priorities. Authorities have promoted the development of industrial and economic clusters to stimulate manufacturing, logistics and value-added production. Strengthening domestic resource mobilisation and reinforcing a medium-term fiscal framework are also key objectives aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Analysts note that sustained cooperation with development institutions will remain important as Egypt balances fiscal consolidation with social investment, particularly amid global economic uncertainties and evolving financing conditions.
