Egypt and World Bank Deepen Cooperation for Sustainable Development
Cairo – Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Rostom, met with a delegation from the World Bank led by Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, Stéphane Guimbert, to discuss strengthening their strategic partnership, officials said Sunday. The talks centered on bolstering Egypt’s development plans and improving the efficiency of public investment.
The meeting underscored a shared commitment to growth driven by human development, with a focus on prioritizing the needs of Egyptian citizens. Rostom emphasized the importance of close collaboration between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates to accelerate structural reforms and maximize the benefits of international partnerships.
“We are placing the Egyptian citizen at the heart of the development process,” Rostom stated, outlining the ministry’s current focus on preparing an annual development plan and a three-year medium-term framework. The updated strategy aims to reprioritize public investments, enhance spending efficiency, and generate employment opportunities through the stimulation of key economic clusters.
The government’s commitment to social protection programs was also highlighted, including the Takaful and Karama cash transfer program, which supports vulnerable populations. Rostom reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the “Decent Life” initiative, a presidential program aimed at improving living standards in rural areas, with plans to accelerate its second and third phases.
Guimbert reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to providing technical assistance and expertise to Egypt across several priority areas. This includes strengthening financial governance through public expenditure reviews, enhancing domestic resource mobilization, and supporting a sound medium-term fiscal framework. Cooperation will also extend to the social protection and health sectors, including analytical support for Egypt’s comprehensive health insurance system.
The World Bank, according to its website, appointed Guimbert as Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti in August 2023. He previously served as the Bank’s Operations Policy Director.
This deepened cooperation reflects Egypt’s ongoing efforts to build a resilient and sustainable economy, balancing fiscal discipline with expanded social investment, officials said. The government’s approach extends beyond economic growth to address the aspirations of its citizens.
