Davos: Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, engaged in discussions with Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), during the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The event, themed 'Spirit of Dialogue', brought together leaders from governments, the business sector, and civil society, including several heads of state and senior executives from global economic institutions.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt's appreciation for its robust partnership with the OECD, citing the success of Egypt's Country Programme and the OECD-Middle East and North Africa Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development. She emphasized the collaboration's focus on promoting evidence-based policymaking, supporting institutional reform, and achieving sustainable development. The partnership aims to leverage international expertise to enhance economic and institutional reform policies, supporting Egypt's national structural reform programme.
Dr. Al-Mashat also expressed her appreciation for her role as Co-Chair of the OECD-Middle East and North Africa Initiative, which enables Egypt to influence regional dialogue and facilitate peer learning. She stressed Egypt's commitment to aligning the Initiative's strategic direction with the region's evolving development priorities and aspirations.
She noted the extension of the Country Programme until June 2026, which aims to align Egypt's national development agenda with international best practices through 35 projects across five thematic pillars. This framework underscores Egypt's dedication to reform ownership and policy coherence.
Commending the OECD's support for Egypt's reform agenda, Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the Organisation's contributions, such as the preparation of the first edition of Egypt's Narrative for Comprehensive Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs, and Resilience. She expressed Egypt's eagerness to utilize the OECD's expertise and analytical reports to improve the business environment and investment climate, fostering a more attractive setting for both domestic and foreign investments.
Dr. Al-Mashat conveyed that the Country Programme continues to offer significant value to Egypt's reform agenda, aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 and the national structural reform programme. She eagerly anticipates the upcoming OECD reviews in areas such as national innovation policies, women's economic empowerment, port efficiency, governance of infrastructure investments, and agricultural policies, as the Country Programme nears its final stages.
Concluding the meeting, Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing its strategic partnership with the OECD, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the benefits of Egypt's participation in OECD committees and continuing the exchange of knowledge to respond to emerging opportunities and enhance Egypt's role in global policy discussions.