Egypt outlines three-year economic transformation plan

During the inaugural Alamein-Africa Forum 2026, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Rostam, outlined a three-year economic transformation program. The strategy focuses on improving the “quality of growth,” deepening local manufacturing, and enhancing government performance efficiency.

Key initiatives include the upcoming launch of a “unified licensing window” to streamline investor procedures and reduce paperwork. The government also aims to expand the private sector's role in development through the continued implementation of the “State Ownership Policy” document, which seeks to open vital sectors to private investment.

Minister Rostam highlighted the need for structural reforms to boost productivity and competitiveness, alongside digital transformation and increased investment in human capital. He noted that while Africa’s economy is estimated at $3.6 trillion, its share of global trade remains below 1.5%, presenting significant untapped opportunities for intra-continental cooperation and the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).