Tuesday 03/February/2026 – 11:28 AM
The doctor shared Rania Al-MashatMinister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in the symposium on business opportunities organized by the World Bank and its international bank partners in cooperation with the Egyptian Federation of Construction and Building Contractors, under the title “Multilateral Development Projects: Readiness in Procurement and Opportunities in Egypt – MDP-PRO-Egypt”, in the presence of Engineer Mohamed Shimi, Minister of the Business Sector, Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing, Stephane Gimbert, Regional Director of the World Bank, and representatives of the sector. Private.
Al-Mashat: The private sector is not just an implementer of businesses or services, but rather a major partner in achieving development
At the beginning of her speech; Dr. Rania Al-Mashat confirmed that this symposium provides a direct practical platform linking development finance, government priorities, and the private sector’s capabilities for implementation, thanking the partners from the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, the African Export-Import Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the New Development Bank, and the Arab, African, and Egyptian contractors’ unions for organizing this joint forum.
Al-Mashat explained that Egypt has succeeded in recent years in building one of the most diversified portfolios in multilateral development cooperation in the region, as these partnerships support Egypt’s national priorities in the areas of infrastructure, human development, climate action, and private sector-based growth, noting that while enhancing our efficiency in mobilizing concessional financing, the real challenge today remains implementation readiness, as delays in procurement procedures mean delaying services and postponing investments. She stressed that readiness in procurement is not only a procedural issue, but rather a fundamental development issue.
She added that this forum directly responds to this challenge, and addresses issues of competition, transparency, and participation in procurement processes. It provides a unified platform for contractors, consultants and suppliers to interact with MDBs in order to benefit from lessons learned from common errors in bids and proposals, prepare for updated changes in policies and procurement guidelines, as well as understand the procurement mechanisms for future development bank-financed projects.
Al-Mashat explained that this approach reflects a move from fragmented participation to organized dialogue, early vision, and predictability, which are essential elements for building trust and increasing participation, especially by new and qualified companies.
The importance of the private sector
On the importance of the private sector as a partner in development; Al-Mashat said that Egypt’s development agenda depends on a strong, capable and competitive private sector. The private sector is not just an implementer of businesses or services, but rather a partner in achieving development results, with the innovation, efficiency, technologies, and implementation capabilities it provides, noting that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation launched the “Hafiz” platform in December 2023, to provide financial and technical support to the private sector, with the aim of linking companies, especially small, medium and emerging companies, with international development partners, and facilitating their access to development financing, technical assistance, advisory services, and funded tenders. Internationally.
She confirmed that the “Hafiz” platform today includes more than 90 financing and technical assistance tools provided by more than 50 international partners, and since its launch, it has attracted nearly 50,000 users from entrepreneurs and the private sector. It also contains a database of more than 700 companies that have benefited from its services, and provides access to more than 2,500 tenders for development projects in Egypt and more than 80 other countries, thus enhancing the integration of local companies into global markets.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation also confirmed; Egypt is working to transform its economic model through the “National Narrative for Comprehensive Development: Policies Supporting Growth and Employment,” which places the private sector as a major driver of national growth, and aims to raise the private sector’s contribution to total investments to 72% by 2030. In this context, the government is implementing legislative reforms, expanding the state’s exit from some activities, and supporting the manufacturing, technology, and renewable energy sectors to enhance job opportunities and sustainable growth.
