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Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, concluded his participation in the "Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Dialogue)" held in the Spanish capital, Madrid. Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Spanish government, the event served as a platform for Egypt to showcase its vision for expanding innovative financing mechanisms to achieve sustainable development.

Bilateral Meetings and International Partnerships

During the visit, the Minister held intensive meetings with international officials and development partners. These included discussions with Mr. Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support; Mr. Mohameden Ould Ahmedou, Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Sustainable Development; and Mr. Mohamed Nour Abdel Rahim, Minister of State for Financial Affairs and Economic Planning, to explore joint files and enhance bilateral cooperation.

Linking Planning and Public Finance for Spending Efficiency

The Minister emphasized that Egypt is moving steadily toward integrating developmental and financial planning. He noted that the General Planning Law No. 18 of 2022 and the Unified Public Finance Law No. 6 of 2022 serve as core pillars for aligning resources with national priorities, linking resource allocation to program execution, and measuring performance to directly improve public services and job creation.

Improved Development Indicators and Innovative Financing Strategies

Dr. Ahmed Rostom highlighted findings from Egypt’s Voluntary National Reviews (VNR), pointing out an increase in Egypt’s Human Development Index (HDI) from 0.736 in 2020 to 0.754 in 2023. He also shed light on:

The Integrated National Financing Strategy (INFS), launched in March 2025, providing a comprehensive framework to channel public and private financial resources toward national priorities.

The Infrastructure Financing Guarantee Facility (IFGF), developed in partnership with the World Bank to provide early support for project preparation and creditworthiness, reassuring international financial institutions.

Efforts to restructure the National Investment Bank (NIB) to introduce innovative financing tools.

Economic Challenges and Global Financial Pressures

The Minister stressed that the current challenge goes beyond merely mobilizing additional funds; it lies in securing the right funding in the required volume and directing it precisely toward national priorities. He noted that regional and international tensions, rising global borrowing costs, and debt-servicing obligations increasingly constrain fiscal space for governments, limiting public resources available for vital sectors like health, education, infrastructure, and climate action.