Egypt’s Planning Minister, Dutch Ambassador meet to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, received Mr. Peter Mollema, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Cairo, to discuss ways of cooperation. 

The meeting witnessed the presence of Ambassador Hazem Khairat, Director of the Ministry's International Cooperation Office, and Marjolein Jungmann, Advisor for Economic Affairs and Development Cooperation.

During the meeting, El-Said asserted the strong and long-term partnership between Egypt and the Netherlands, referring to the tasks and files of the Ministry of Planning, which include developing and preparing long-, medium- and short-term sustainable development plans, and preparing the annual investment plan.

El-Said also said that among the ministry’s tasks is to evaluate the investment projects proposed by each ministry and government entity and determine the allocations for its investment plan. 

She also referred to diversifying funding sources for development plans and programs and strengthening partnership mechanisms with the private sector, civil society, and development partners to enhance development financing.

El-Said explained that the Ministry is also responsible for formulating the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (Egypt Vision 2030), in addition to following up on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) and ensuring commitment to the Africa Agenda 2063.

The Ministry is also responsible for setting general goals for economic development, proposing economic policies to achieve them, and participating in formulating sectoral and geographic development strategies at the national level in partnership with the ministries and concerned authorities.

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development pointed to the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, which is the investment arm of the state, referring to the entities affiliated with the Ministry, which include the Demographic Center, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMS), the Institute of National Planning (INP), and the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD).

Regarding the initiatives prepared or participated in by the Ministry of Planning, Dr. Hala El-Said referred to the National Structural Reforms Program, which aims to diversify the production of the Egyptian economy by focusing on three leading sectors, including agriculture, industry, and communications, which represent the basic pillar of the structural reform program.

She also referred to the "Decent Life" initiative, which aims to develop the lives of citizens in the countryside, and the National Project for Egyptian Family Development, which aims to enhance efforts to improve women and improve the quality of life for families.

 El-Said also reviewed Egypt's efforts towards creating a good business environment and improving the investment climate in Egypt, and the state ownership policy document that explains to investors the role of the state in various sectors as a regulator of economic activity according to market mechanisms.

  El-Said also discussed how the state will exit from activities in which the private sector will play the largest role.

She referred to the activation of the golden license stipulated in the investment law.

El-Said discussed The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and green hydrogen projects, as the fund gives great priority to enhancing investments in green projects, with a special focus on green hydrogen and its derivatives.