Egypt's Planning Minister Ahmed Rustom meets Afreximbank to expand startup support in Africa

Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Ahmed Rustom met with Afreximbank vice‑president Heitham Al‑Ma'ariji to discuss deeper cooperation between Egypt and the African Export‑Import Bank. Attendees included Omar Al‑Abed, the Prime Minister’s advisor for entrepreneurship, Dr. Heba Zaki, director of the Egypt Entrepreneurship Center, and Mohamed Metwally, managing partner of IN Capital.

The participants highlighted the strategic partnership’s role in regional integration, facilitating bilateral trade, and developing digital payment infrastructure across African markets. They announced plans to create a "Fund of Funds" to finance Egyptian startups and SMEs, promote capital‑raising and IPO pathways, and support expansion into African markets. The meeting also referenced a recent memorandum of understanding to establish a "Gold Bank" in Egypt and discussed collaboration with IN Capital to channel investment into promising ventures.