Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Participates in a Seminar at Cairo International Book Fair to discuss “Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development”

“Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development” was formulated to achieve integration between Egypt Vision 2030 and the Government Program in light of global changes that have affected countries worldwide since 2020.

The Narrative sets out an integrated framework for development planning, defines the vision and related strategies, and follows up on their implementation at the national, regional, and sectoral levels.

 The Narrative aims to link development performance with financial performance through a programs-and-performance approach, establishing measurable and monitorable targets for each ministry and government entity.

 Spatial justice, localization of development, and leveraging the competitive advantages of governorates are core pillars for achieving comprehensive development.

 H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi consistently gives directives to focus on development in the governorates and on expanding development corridors to increase productivity.

 “Driving Economic Change..Enhancing Quality of Life” is the theme of Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development, as the state works to increase production and investment to boost resources and incomes.

 The government is implementing successive policies and measures to empower the private sector and enhance competitive neutrality through the National Structural Reforms Program.

 The Suez Canal Economic Zone supports Egypt’s contribution to international supply chains and attracts diversified investments in technology, industry, and energy.

Governance of public investment has opened space for the private sector, with a target of raising private investment to more than 70% by 2030.

Egypt’s Narrative focuses on 28 priority industries, leveraging the economy’s comparative advantages and responding to supply-and-demand mechanisms to increase Egyptian exports.

 International cooperation and partnerships are a cornerstone for opening new global markets and strengthening economic relations with countries and international institutions.

The Cairo International Book Fair 2026 hosted H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in a seminar organized by the “NAWA” Foundation.The seminar reviewed “Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development: Reforms for Growth Jobs and Resilience” and was moderated by Dr. Abdel Moneim Said, political thinker and Chairman of the Board of the Nawa Foundation.  The attendees included Dr. Khaled Okasha, the Foundation’s Managing Director, along with a number of thinkers, university professors, and visitors to the Book Fair.

Community Dialogue

The Minister reviewed the pillars of “Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development,” which was finalized last December following a community dialogue that lasted more than three months and involved over 120 economists, specialists, and thinkers.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the expanded community dialogue, noting that the current version of the Narrative incorporates all viewpoints expressed during the dialogue, and that the second edition will include a number of introductory sessions in the coming period.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that economics is built on a very important principle: managing future expectations. Accordingly, the Narrative aims to manage expectations regarding the future outlook of the Egyptian economy, enhance credibility and transparency around the state’s efforts and policies, and strengthen the ability of the business community and citizens to manage their expectations and future decisions.

Integration between Vision 2030 and the Government Program

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that in 2015 the United Nations announced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as national goals; if each country achieves them, the world becomes a better place. Egypt was among the first countries to adopt the SDGs and launched Vision 2030 in 2016, which was updated in 2018. Since 2020, a pivotal year for the world, the UN goals have faced significant setbacks and economic conditions globally have been affected. Consequently, Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development came to integrate Vision 2030 with the Government’s work program, in line with the current economic context and taking into account the state’s significant efforts to develop infrastructure.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that the legislative reference for the Narrative is based on the Unified Public Finance Law and the General Planning Law issued in 2022, which stipulate the role of the Ministry in designing the integrated development planning system, defining the vision and related strategies, and following up on implementation at the national, regional, and sectoral levels, linking them to macroeconomic policies. Under the law, the upcoming Economic and Social Development Plan will, for the first time, be a medium-term plan based on the programs-and-performance methodology.

Linking Development and Financial Performance

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that a key objective of Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development and its executive program is linking development performance to financial performance through the programs-and-performance budget, by adopting the concept of “comprehensive strategic planning based on policy quality” as a principal mechanism to develop the national planning system and ensure sustainable economic growth. The narrative includes vertical targets for each ministry and government entity, with specific mechanisms to achieve them, alongside horizontal targets shared by multiple entities, such as economic growth, thereby ensuring integration across institutions.

She added that the second edition of the Narrative covers all service sectors - health, education, and social protection - and their targets across all governorates, within a framework that preserves spatial justice and improves quality of life for citizens.

Spatial Justice

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development places spatial justice, regional planning, and localization of development at the top of priorities by leveraging the competitive advantages of each governorate. For example, Egypt’s textile exports have seen a significant surge due to the spread of ready-made garment factories in Upper Egypt; therefore, plans take into account each governorate’s advantages when allocating investments.

The Minister highlighted H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s vision of focusing on development in the governorates, including the establishment of development clusters in Sinai that encompass agricultural and productive activities. She underscored the importance of state investments in ports, roads, and infrastructure, which have supported the establishment of many factories in Upper Egypt governorates such as Sohag and Minya. She further stressed that the new economic model currently adopted by the state builds on previous infrastructure investments while focusing on spatial planning to address development gaps.

Governance of Public Investment

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat discussed the governance of public investment as an important component of macroeconomic stability in Egypt, noting the introduction of a ceiling on public spending, which has created space for the private sector. As a result, private investments now account for 65% of total investments, with a target of exceeding 70% by 2030.

She noted that when examining GDP components and growth drivers, sectors such as industry, tourism, and ICT have led growth in recent years. The private sector leads the industrial sector, accounts for 98% of tourism, and drives exports in ICT and other feeder industries across sectors.

Private Sector Empowerment

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat mentioned policies supporting competitive neutrality, including the government’s recent policy regarding tax exemption rules and the cancellation of exemptions previously enjoyed by many government entities. The government is implementing multiple measures through the National Structural Reforms Program to improve the business environment, ensure competitive neutrality, and empower the private sector. She also highlighted Egypt’s efforts in recent years to expand its productive footprint, enhance development corridors, and establish numerous industrial and residential zones.

International Supply Chains

Regarding Egypt’s role in global supply chains, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted the significant development of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which hosts many companies and factories across industries, strengthening Egypt’s position in international supply chains. The zone is witnessing strong interest and diverse investments in technology, automotive, and other sectors. In this context, the Narrative includes a dedicated chapter on industry and an industrial advancement plan focusing on 28 priority industries where Egypt has competitive advantages and strong international demand, enhancing the ability of Egyptian exports to access markets.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat further underscored efforts toward fiscal sustainability, noting that the Narrative includes a dedicated section on the state’s debt management plan, with debt targets through 2030 and clearly defined measures to achieve them—reaffirming the state’s commitment to disclosure and transparency. She encouraged attendees to review the Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development, which answers all questions related to the Egyptian economy.

International Cooperation and Partnerships

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that international cooperation is a fundamental pillar for Egypt. A book on “Economic Diplomacy” was prepared in line with H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives, and was launched from the London School of Economics in 2021 to document Egypt’s experience in international cooperation and development finance.

The Narrative also includes a full chapter on international cooperation and partnerships, highlighting Egypt’s focus on African relations.  

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation oversees 58 joint committees between Egypt and a number of countries, which open new horizons for production, supply chains, trade, and investment. The Narrative provides detailed information on areas of cooperation with each country within the framework of international cooperation and partnerships.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat engaged in a dialogue with attendees and answered their questions. In response to a question on social justice and increasing citizens’ incomes, she emphasized that the state is working to transform the structure of the Egyptian economy and increase productivity to expand resources and fiscal space, enabling greater spending on health and education and improving citizens’ lives.

 

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat concluded: “The theme of the National Narrative for Comprehensive Development is “Driving Economic Change..Enhancing Quality of Life”. Human development and the policies adopted to improve quality of life lead the first chapter of the Narrative, which includes programs to invest in human capital across all age groups as a pillar for driving economic growth and enhancing competitiveness.”

The Minister further mentioned that the second edition of the Narrative includes a main section on national security within the chapter on international cooperation and partnerships, and pointed to the launch of the fifteenth edition of Egypt’s Economic Census during the current year, in which Egypt has been a pioneer.

H.E Dr. Al-Mashat , Participates in a Seminar at Cairo International Book Fair to discuss “Egypt’s Narrative for Comprehensive Development”