Egyptian Planning Minister Dr. Ahmed Rustom participated in a high-level session titled "Partnership with Egypt: Common Opportunities for African Businesses" at the El Alamein-Africa 2026 forum. The session saw the presence of several high-ranking officials, including Transport Minister Kamal El-Wazir and Industry Minister Khaled Hashem. Around 1,500 African investors and business leaders attended the event, which was organized in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank.
During his speech, Dr. Rustom emphasized that Egypt's economic transformation program for the next three years focuses on enhancing the quality of growth and adopting an effective implementation approach. This approach aims to improve government performance and build capacities. He stressed that the state prioritizes macroeconomic stability, which has been demonstrated through recent policies and decisions that have successfully addressed regional and global geopolitical shocks.
Dr. Rustom highlighted the government's commitment to empowering the private sector to drive job creation. He stated that the state aims to increase the private sector's contribution to the economy, particularly in areas such as sustainable employment, increased value-added, and deepened local manufacturing. The minister announced the government's progress in implementing the second phase of the "State Ownership Policy" document, which reflects the state's commitment to opening up to private investments in vital sectors.
The minister also revealed that the government is nearing the launch of a "Unified Licensing Window" to facilitate investors. He confirmed that work is underway to activate this window soon, as part of the economic transformation program's objectives to reduce bureaucracy and enable market mechanisms. Dr. Rustom emphasized that the program prioritizes digital transformation and aims to accelerate the digital transformation process.
Dr. Rustom stressed that the upcoming agenda involves comprehensive structural reform to enhance productivity and competitiveness. He noted that this reform is coupled with active market policies and a focus on exchange rate flexibility as a key element of economic transformation. The minister concluded his speech by emphasizing that the shift towards a knowledge-based economy requires accelerating digital transformation and investing in human capital.
On the sidelines of the forum, Dr. Rustom met with Karim Daho, Deputy Director of Global Relations and Cooperation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They discussed prospects for future cooperation and updates on joint programs between the two parties. Several officials from the Ministries of Planning and Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.
The El Alamein-Africa 2026 forum saw high-level participation from African investors and business leaders. The event aimed to promote economic cooperation and explore business opportunities between Egypt and Africa. Dr. Rustom's speech outlined Egypt's commitment to economic transformation and its focus on empowering the private sector to drive growth and job creation.
Key points
- Egypt's economic transformation program prioritizes digital transformation and empowering the private sector.
- The program aims to enhance macroeconomic stability and improve government performance.
- The government is nearing the launch of a "Unified Licensing Window" to facilitate investors.
