Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom held a series of meetings in Washington with senior officials from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to review Egypt’s economic developments and strategies to address current challenges.
The talks focused on the impact of regional geopolitical tensions on supply chains and inflation. Rostom highlighted Egypt’s resilience, citing proactive policies and accumulated experience that helped the economy absorb shocks from the pandemic and global crises. He stressed the government’s commitment to securing energy needs, expanding clean energy projects, and strengthening food security through agricultural expansion, diversified imports, and strategic reserves.
Meetings included discussions with World Bank vice presidents Samuel Maimbo, Jorge Familiar, Pablo Saavedra, Gallina Vincelette, and Arturo Herrera Gutierrez, as well as UK representatives at the World Bank and IMF. Rostom also met Bethany Brez, vice president of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, who expressed readiness to expand investments in Egypt’s infrastructure.
Rostom underscored Egypt’s priority to empower the private sector as the main driver of growth. He noted GDP growth of 5.3 percent in the first half of the year, with expectations of a temporary slowdown before recovery. He urged international institutions to support developing countries facing geopolitical pressures with concessional financing and technical assistance.
