During her first visit to the Middle East in 2026, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation held an extensive meeting with the Vice President of the European Investment Bank and the accompanying delegation to discuss the future of strategic relations.
Dr. Rania El-Mashat: International cooperation and strategic partnerships are a key pillar of the “National Narrative for Comprehensive Development.”
Egypt is the largest country of operations for the European Investment Bank outside the EU, with investments exceeding €14 billion since 1979.
The European Investment Bank is one of the largest multilateral banks financing both local and foreign private sectors in Egypt.
Establishing a regional center for the bank in Cairo strengthens Egypt’s position as an international platform for development financing.
€3.1 billion in credit lines were extended to Egyptian banks by the European Investment Bank between 2020–2024.
The bank’s investments helped mobilize foreign direct investment in vital sectors, especially renewable energy.
Dr. Rania El-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, held a broad meeting with Ms. Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, and Mr. Andrew McDowell, Director of EIB Global (the development arm of the European Investment Bank), along with their delegation. The meeting, part of her first visit to the Middle East in 2026, focused on the future of joint relations within the framework of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU.
During the meeting, Dr. El-Mashat presented the second edition of the “National Narrative for Comprehensive Development,” which serves as a comprehensive framework guiding sustainable and inclusive growth led by the private sector. She explained that the narrative emphasizes achieving macroeconomic stability, implementing structural reforms, enhancing competitiveness, increasing private sector participation, and prioritizing green transition, digital transformation, and human capital development.
El-Mashat stressed that Egypt values its strategic partnership with the European Investment Bank in mobilizing financing, reducing investment risks, and supporting private sector–led development in line with national priorities. Egypt is the largest country of operations for the bank outside the EU, with investments exceeding €14 billion since 1979, including €7.2 billion for the private sector, making the EIB one of the largest multilateral financiers of both local and foreign private sectors in Egypt.
She highlighted that the establishment of a regional center for the bank in Cairo strengthens Egypt’s position as an international platform for development financing. The bank’s investments have helped mobilize foreign direct investment in vital sectors, particularly renewable energy. She noted the major project launched yesterday by Scatec, in which the EIB is participating, describing it as one of the key projects securing Egypt’s energy supply.
She added that, following up on the December meeting with the EIB mission and preparing for new cooperation in 2026 and beyond, several priorities announced by the bank for the private sector at the start of 2026 were identified. These priorities align closely with Egypt’s national development agenda, including financing the green transition and supporting climate action as strategic priorities to foster sustainable growth, with energy transition as a cornerstone of Egypt’s development efforts.
The meeting also discussed cooperation between Egypt and the EIB regarding the “NWFE” program in its energy, food, and water pillars, and the “NWFE+” program in its sustainable transport pillar.
For her part, Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, said the partnership with Egypt represents an advanced model of cooperation based on empowering the private sector and supporting the transition to a green economy. She emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening this partnership, recognizing its pivotal role in supporting Egypt’s government and achieving its development priorities.
Vigliotti added that the bank’s executive board approved financing worth $150 million for one of Africa’s largest renewable energy projects, which was inaugurated yesterday in the presence of Egypt’s Prime Minister. She affirmed the bank’s pride in supporting this exceptional project, which embodies its commitment to Egypt’s green transition. She noted that the bank continues to support Egypt’s goals, particularly raising the share of renewable energy to 42% of total production, stressing that these efforts reflect the EIB’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action in Egypt.