Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Continues Bilateral Meetings with Development Partners and Government Representatives at the WEF Davos 2026

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of international organizations and governments to discuss strengthening avenues of cooperation. These meetings took place during her participation in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, held from 19 to 23 January under the theme “The Spirit of Dialogue,” with the participation of prominent leaders from governments, the business sector, and civil society, as well as a number of heads of state and senior executives of global economic institutions.

 

European Research Council

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC) of the European Commission. The meeting discussed areas of joint cooperation in light of the Council’s role in supporting and advancing scientific research across various fields.

In this context, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized that the European Union is a key strategic development partner, contributing to the implementation of priority projects across various sectors through grants and blended financing. She highlighted the ongoing cooperation within blended finance programs, which support vital sectors including transport, water, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, renewable energy, social protection, governance, civil society, and capacity building.

 

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also referred to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, signed on 14 March 2024, as a framework that defines the priorities and strategic objectives of joint cooperation, ensures alignment with Egypt’s national priorities, and responds to emerging needs.

 

Harvard University

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat also met with Prof. Kenneth Rogoff, Professor of Economics at Harvard University and former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, to discuss global economic developments, debt issues, financial stability, and the key challenges facing emerging economies. The two sides reviewed the global challenges that dominated the discussions of the World Economic Forum and the need for stronger international cooperation to confront these challenges.

During the meeting, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat highlighted the latest performance indicators of the Egyptian economy, emphasizing that the country is entering a phase of stronger and more balanced growth, with GDP recording 5.3% growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/2026, compared to 3.5% in the same period of the previous year.

 

Inter-American Development Bank

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat also held a meeting with Mr. Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), one of the leading regional banks supporting development efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. The two sides discussed the challenges facing emerging markets and the importance of integration among regional blocs and maximizing cooperation to advance development efforts, particularly through the exchange of knowledge and expertise and benefiting from development practices and experiences.

 

Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy

 

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation also met with with Mr. Mark Alexandre Doumba, Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy and Innovation. The discussions touched on opportunities for joint cooperation, particularly in light of the digital challenges facing developing countries, as well as Egypt’s efforts to enhance digital transformation, support entrepreneurship and innovation, and implement the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.