Egypt is intensifying its cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as it pushes for full membership and seeks to accelerate institutional reform and private sector-led growth, Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat said following talks in Paris. Minister Al-Mashat met OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on the sidelines of the organisation's Ministerial Council Meetings to discuss expanding the Egypt-OECD Country Programme, a key platform for policy coordination and reform. "We aim to move from policy recommendations to implementation tools and actionable plans that support our national development goals," Minister Al-Mashat said, highlighting alignment with Egypt's Vision 2030 strategy and structural reform agenda. Cormann said the OECD remains open to new members and described Egypt's programme as "a step forward toward full membership," which would make it the first Arab and African country to join the Paris-based body. Egypt currently co-chairs the MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development, giving it a leading role in regional policy dialogue and experience-sharing. Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman praised Egypt's efforts to mobilise development finance for the private sector, noting it had become the main beneficiary of such funding, rather than the government. She urged Egypt to share its experience with other emerging markets. The Country Programme, which runs through 2025, includes 35 reform projects across five pillars and is implemented through wide institutional coordination within Egypt. Minister Al-Mashat also held talks with Andreas Schaal, Director of Global Relations at the OECD, on future membership prospects and programme evaluation mechanisms. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
