Egypt’s Minister Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom said the world is at a critical stage in implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, calling for stronger international cooperation to address mounting economic, climate and geopolitical challenges.
The minister made these remarks while speaking on Thursday at a high-level side event organized by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) , on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2026 at UN headquarters in New York.
Rostom said slowing economic growth, climate change and geopolitical tensions have widened the global development financing gap, making renewed collective action essential.
Despite these challenges, he said, Egypt remains firmly committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its Egypt Vision 2030 strategy.
Rostom stressed that sustainable development cannot be achieved through isolated sectoral policies but requires an integrated approach based on evidence-driven planning, stronger institutions and expanded partnerships with the private sector, civil society and development partners.
He also highlighted Egypt’s fourth Voluntary National Review, describing it as a significant step forward that goes beyond tracking progress to provide a deeper analysis of development pathways.
The minister said the report reflects the principle of “leaving no one behind” by demonstrating how the UN’s SDGs are translated into practical policies and local development initiatives across Egypt’s governorates.
Rostom pointed to the Decent Life (Hayah Karima) Presidential initiative as a leading example of Egypt’s efforts to localize sustainable development, noting that more than 90% of the 1st phase has been completed, while work is being accelerated on the 2nd phase to improve living standards.
He emphasized that faster progress will require continued knowledge-sharing, innovative financing mechanisms and stronger international partnerships to achieve more inclusive and sustainable development for future generations.
