Friday 13/March/2026 – 03:27 PM
Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, held a meeting yesterday with a delegation from the World Bank Group, which included representatives of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Rustom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, to discuss ways to enhance private investments in the infrastructure sector and stimulate private sector participation through innovative financing tools.
Council of Ministers for Economic Affairs
During the meeting, the World Bank Group delegation reviewed the proposal to establish a “mechanism to guarantee the financing of infrastructure projects” (Infrastructure Finance Guarantee Facility – IFGF), which aims to address the financing challenges associated with long-term projects, especially with regard to providing financing in local currency, in addition to reducing reliance on direct sovereign guarantees, which contributes to alleviating pressures on the state’s general budget and enhancing the management of financial obligations more efficiently, as well as attracting private capital to vital sectors, most notably renewable energy and water.
In this context, Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, said that studying this proposal comes within the framework of the state’s direction to provide greater scope for the private sector to participate in investment and financing in infrastructure projects, in a way that supports development efforts and enhances the efficiency of resource use.
He added that the government pays special attention to developing innovative financing mechanisms capable of stimulating private investments and reducing the financing burdens on the state, while ensuring the sustainability of the implementation of priority infrastructure projects.
During the meeting, Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, explained that the proposal presented by the World Bank Group represents an important opportunity to develop the financing system for infrastructure projects in Egypt, through advanced institutional tools that contribute to bridging financing gaps and managing credit risks efficiently, stressing the agreement to begin in-depth technical consultations to study the mechanisms for implementing this proposal in accordance with the requirements of the Egyptian market and the state’s development goals.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed to prepare a road map that includes holding expanded consultations with various government agencies, financial institutions and private sector developers, to ensure that the design of this mechanism is compatible with the needs of the Egyptian market and the requirements of future projects in the infrastructure sectors.
