Egypt Outlines Strategy to Boost Investment at Madrid Development Forum

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Rostom, presented the nation’s strategy to attract foreign investment and strengthen development partnerships during a panel discussion at the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Dialogue in Madrid. The session focused on transforming national development priorities into projects capable of securing private sector capital.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic focus: The Ministry of Planning is restructuring public investment management to increase efficiency and transparency through digital monitoring systems.
• New financial vehicle: Egypt is launching the Infrastructure Finance Guarantee Facility (IFGF) in partnership with the World Bank Group.
• Targeted sectors: The government is prioritizing investments in renewable energy, water desalination, and sustainable urban development.
• Risk mitigation: The IFGF aims to address structural market risks to encourage domestic financial institutions and investors to participate in national projects.
• Call for flexibility: Rostom urged development partners to utilize blended finance instruments and local currency financing to mitigate exchange-rate volatility.

Bridging the Investment Gap

Rostom stated that the primary challenge in global development is not a lack of capital, but rather the difficulty in converting national policy goals into investable, project-ready pipelines. He argued that the ability to attract financing relies on creating projects that appeal to private investors. The Egyptian government has implemented reforms to its public investment management, utilizing digital systems to provide real-time project monitoring. According to the ministry, these measures are designed to streamline implementation, improve public services, and generate employment.