Egypt's Senate approved the government's economic and social development blueprint for the 2025/26 fiscal year, which allocates 1.16 trillion Egyptian pounds in public investments, with a renewed emphasis on fiscal restraint and accelerating private sector-led growth. Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat told lawmakers the plan limits public capital spending to reduce debt pressures while prioritizing high-execution projects. "We've committed to a ceiling on government investment to control expenditure and support sustainability," she said during a general session on Sunday. The plan also ramps up support for health sector funding to meet universal insurance commitments and reinforces the state's goal of expanding the private sector's footprint in the economy. Minister El-Mashat said over $14.5 billion in concessional finance had been secured for private enterprises in the past five years, along with $3.9 billion for renewable energy projects under Egypt's NWFE green investment platform. Private sector participation is expected to play a key role in advancing national development goals amid broader structural reforms and shifting geopolitical conditions. Lawmakers welcomed the plan's focus on investment efficiency, debt management, and environmental sustainability. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
