Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt and France explore pathways to deepen strategic partnership and boost sustainable development
In a move underscoring the strong and evolving partnership between Egypt and France, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, met with Ms. Cécile Le Cupriec, Regional Director for North Africa of the French Development Agency (AFD), at the ministry’s headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The meeting focused on advancing bilateral cooperation, reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to sustainable economic progress.
During their discussions, Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Egypt and France, which has played a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth, supporting diverse development sectors, and creating greater opportunities for the Egyptian economy. The minister emphasized that Egypt remains open and ready to forge new partnerships and attract foreign investment that fosters innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
The partnership between Egypt and France operates within the broader strategic framework of Egypt’s relationship with the European Union, touching vital areas such as transport, health, energy, education, and housing. France has also actively supported opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, improved market access, and promoted expertise exchange.
The meeting also recognized the importance of upcoming bilateral events, including the anticipated visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Egypt in April 2025. This visit is expected to further reinforce the strategic partnership and generate new momentum in priority sectors like energy and transport, while boosting investment and prosperity for citizens in both countries.
Minister Al-Mashat introduced Egypt’s newly launched National Economic Development Narrative – an integrated framework aligning government programs for 2024-2027 with Egypt’s Vision 2030. This comprehensive approach aims to strengthen macroeconomic stability and focus on highly productive, export-oriented sectors, leveraging Egypt’s advanced infrastructure and redefining the state's economic role. Such efforts are designed to boost Egypt’s competitiveness and encourage robust private sector participation—key ingredients for continued economic reform.
The Egyptian government has made notable strides in creating an attractive investment environment, removing obstacles for investors, and fostering effective public-private partnerships especially in sustainable growth areas such as green transition, transport, health, and education. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed that this dynamic environment enables both international partners and the private sector to contribute meaningfully to Egypt’s development vision.
Egypt's ongoing structural reforms—aligned with its partnership with the European Union—focus on economic stability, competitiveness, and inclusive, sustainable growth. These reforms include enhancements to the investment climate, improved governance, private sector development, and progress toward green and digital transformations. All of these efforts underscore Egypt’s steadfast commitment to deepening cooperation with strategic partners, ensuring long-term prosperity and resilience for its population.
Both Egyptian and French officials reaffirmed their shared dedication to expanding their partnership into new priority areas, particularly in health, education, and infrastructure, reflecting a mutual desire to elevate bilateral relations and deliver tangible benefits to communities in both nations.