Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat has held a meeting with the Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development Abdulhamid Alkhalifa to discuss boosting cooperation, according to a Cabinet statement. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual meetings of Arab financial institutions in Kuwait. Al Mashat highlighted Egypt's strong partnership with the OPEC fund, built on shared values for sustainable development, noting that the collaboration aligns with the ministry's strategy to promote sustainable growth, efficient resource use, and economic development. The minister also pointed to ongoing reforms aimed at improving the investment climate and expanding the private sector's role through the State Ownership Policy Document, which outlines plans for a gradual state divestment from selected sectors and encourages greater public-private partnerships. She underscored Egypt's efforts to liberalise the energy sector since 2014 to attract investment, particularly in renewable energy. The discussions included potential cooperation through Hafiz platform, which supports private sector development with financial and technical assistance, and the national NWFE programme, with a focus on renewable energy, food security, and water sustainability. Alkhalifa reaffirmed the OPEC Fund's longstanding support for Egypt, noting that since 1976, the fund has financed around 60 projects worth approximately $1.4 billion across multiple sectors. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
