Egypt's Planning Minister Ahmed Rustom Calls for Integrated Development Financing at Islamic Development Bank Summit

Dr. Ahmed Rustom, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Development and Governor to the Islamic Development Bank, delivered a speech at a high‑level round‑table of IDB Governors in Baku, Azerbaijan. He thanked the Azerbaijani hosts, praised the re‑election of Dr. Mohammed Al‑Jasser as IDB President, and highlighted the unprecedented economic and geopolitical challenges of the past four years, including volatility in food, energy and supply chains that have widened the financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Rustom urged the adoption of an integrated model that links concessional financing with technical assistance, institutional capacity‑building and knowledge transfer, turning the IDB’s fund from a traditional financing tool into a development platform. He outlined short‑term priorities to support sectors most affected by rising fuel, food and fertilizer prices, medium‑term goals to move from crisis containment to full economic activity and private investment, and long‑term actions to address structural imbalances such as import dependence, food‑security, energy‑security and supply‑chain resilience.

In a separate high‑level session on public‑private partnerships for cross‑border infrastructure, also held in Baku during the IDB’s 51st annual meetings, Rustom underscored the need for regional cooperation to bridge an estimated $2.5 trillion annual financing gap and meet the $6.9 trillion infrastructure investment required by 2030. He highlighted the role of PPPs, flexible long‑term financing, risk‑sharing tools and regulatory harmonisation, and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to support regional economic corridors and private‑sector‑led development.