Egypt’s development plan for 2026/27 targets economic growth of up to 5.4 per cent and total investment of EGP3.7tn, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was told at a meeting in Cairo on 15 November.
The meeting with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Ahmed Rustom, the minister of planning and economic development, also reviewed a new economic programme for 2027 to 2030, a push to widen electronic payments for public services, and preparations for a business meeting that Cairo hosts with the World Economic Forum on 16 and 17 November, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.
What does Egypt’s development plan target?
Presidency spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the meeting reviewed the outlines of the economic and social development plan for the 2026/27 fiscal year. Rustom said the plan targets growth of up to 5.4 per cent, with total investment of EGP3.7tn.
The figures match those the minister presented when the cabinet discussed the development plan in April. Egyptian outlets including Masrawy reported then (in Arabic) that the private sector would account for about 59 per cent of total investment, up to 64 per cent by 2029/30, and that growth was projected to reach 6.8 per cent by the end of the medium-term plan. Some reports at the time gave total investment as EGP3.8tn, a difference the ministry did not explain.
Rustom also pointed to work on the legal framework to improve the investment climate and protect investors’ rights, and to the structural reforms set out in the State Ownership Policy Document and the government’s IPO programme. Both aim to give the private sector a larger role in driving growth, the statement said.
How does the development plan fit the 2027-2030 programme?
Beyond the annual development plan, El-Sisi followed up on the main features of the National Program for Economic Transformation for 2027 to 2030, which the government is drawing up from existing sector strategies, the Industrial Development Strategy and the National Employment Strategy. The programme is meant to make the economy more resilient to crises, according to the presidency.
The president stressed the importance of stronger mechanisms for private sector participation, allowing companies to compete, and of raising employment to improve living standards, the statement said.
He also directed the government to finalise the regulatory and institutional frameworks for new financing mechanisms, developed with international institutions and with private sector participation in infrastructure projects, in order to reduce pressure on foreign currency. Financing requests should be studied institutionally to match state priorities, with alternatives assessed for cost and terms, he said.
How will Egypt’s development plan change public services?
Rustom presented a plan to introduce and expand electronic payment tools for public services, for citizens both inside and outside Egypt, in line with the outcomes of the Egypt Forum 2026. El-Sisi called for work to begin immediately on new digital tools to automate government services, make them easier to reach and improve the efficiency and transparency of government operations.
The minister said his ministry was tracking the skills most in demand on the labour market to support workforce planning, and was expanding academic and training partnerships for civil servants, including one with LinkedIn.
What happens next for the development plan?
The business meeting with the World Economic Forum opens in Cairo on 16 November. El-Sisi described it as a platform to present investment opportunities across sectors in Egypt, the statement said.
The meeting follows a review last week in which the president was briefed on the central bank’s inflation policy as Egypt’s foreign reserves reached a record $57.5bn. Investment ties with African partners have also featured in recent talks, such as El-Sisi’s meeting with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote in October.
FAQ
What growth rate does Egypt’s development plan target?
The 2026/27 plan targets growth of up to 5.4 per cent, according to the planning minister, with growth projected to reach 6.8 per cent by 2029/30.
How much investment does Egypt’s development plan include?
Total investment of EGP3.7tn, according to the presidency statement. Earlier reports put the private sector’s share at about 59 per cent.
How is the development plan linked to the 2027-2030 programme?
The National Program for Economic Transformation, which the government is preparing for 2027 to 2030 from sector, industrial and employment strategies, follows the annual plan and aims to make the economy more resilient to crises.
When is the World Economic Forum meeting in Cairo?
The business meeting with the World Economic Forum takes place in Cairo on 16 and 17 November 2026.
