New york: Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom engaged in discussions with Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, focusing on increasing private sector involvement in sustainable development and assisting Egyptian startups in accessing global markets.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The discussion highlighted current collaborations between Egypt and the UN Global Compact, particularly the private sector's role in preparing Egypt's fourth Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The dialogue also covered cooperation through the 2026 UN Private Sector Forum and the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI). The emphasis was on promoting entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhancing access to international markets and financing opportunities.

Rostom presented Egypt's National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, which offers startups incubation programs, grants, and investment opportunities. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing collaboration to support entrepreneurship, fortify the private sector, and assist Egyptian startups in expanding into regional and international markets.