Egypt, World Bank to boost investment and exports

Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid said on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Egypt is cooperating with the World Bank Group to develop an investment promotion strategy aimed at maximizing the economic impact of foreign investment, strengthening productive capacity and boosting exports by directing investment toward development-priority sectors and activities linked to global value chains. Farid made the remarks during a session titled “The Role of the Private Sector in Financing Development in Developing Countries” at the 2026 World Investment Forum, organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Doha, Qatar, with the participation of officials, experts and representatives of financial and development institutions. He said the strategy seeks to identify priority sectors and opportunities within value chains to direct investment toward activities that enhance production capacity and exports, strengthen links between major projects and local suppliers and manufacturers, and capitalize on manufacturing opportunities related to renewable energy projects. Farid noted that attracting long-term private investment requires clear and stable economic policies, streamlined investment procedures, licensing and approvals, and leveraging Egypt’s network of trade agreements to give investors access to wider regional and international markets. He stressed the importance of preparing bankable projects by completing technical and economic studies, developing financial models, identifying risks and building institutional capacity, particularly in infrastructure, water and energy. He added that developing domestic capital markets and providing investment guarantees and risk-mitigation mechanisms are essential to mobilizing savings and diversifying development financing, particularly amid high global interest rates, competition for capital and a shift toward fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence. On Africa, Farid called for greater integration of capital markets, harmonized regulations and disclosure requirements to facilitate cross-border investment in public offerings and broaden the investor base. He also stressed that harmonizing standards, rules of origin and trade procedures under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would support industrial integration, help African companies expand into new markets and attract more investment. Farid concluded that strengthening the private sector’s role in development financing requires an integrated framework based on stable economic policies, identifying production and export opportunities, preparing projects for financing, developing financial markets and deepening economic integration among African countries.