Al-Mashat: The OECD launch of the first report for Egypt is one of the most important outcomes of the country program
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, expressed her appreciation to the OECD team for their strong support and efforts within the framework of the country program for Egypt, which played an important role in advancing the development agenda, stressing Egypt’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the Organization. Economic cooperation and development, and moving forward with the implementation of the agreed upon program, especially in light of the great importance the state attaches to implementing structural reforms that provide more opportunities for the private sector to lead growth rates, and implementing the program The new government for the next three years, in a way that supports the vision of development.
This came during her meeting with Orlik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as part of his first visit to Egypt, during which it is hosting the Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum in the region. Middle East and North Africa (WEEF), where the meeting witnessed comprehensive discussions between the two sides within the framework of the close partnership and implementation of the OECD country program in Egypt, in a way that supports efforts to formulate evidence-based economic policies and implement reforms. Structural.
She explained that the program works within the framework of 5 main pillars of the Egyptian government that represent important axes in economic reform policies, namely economic stability and structural reform, technology, innovation and digital transformation, public governance and anti-corruption, statistics and follow-up, and sustainable development. She stressed that the program represents a major mechanism for enhancing cooperation with the organization and for Egypt to join as a member state.
She stressed that the Ministry is working to intensify coordination with parties, agencies and ministries. Concerned in Egypt to complete the implementation of the country program and build on what was achieved during the last period, as a number of country program projects were completed in cooperation with national partner agencies, including the launch of the first economic report for Egypt, prepared by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
She explained that the Ministry is communicating continuously with various national bodies to follow up on the executive position of the recommendations contained in the report and to benefit from these recommendations in formulating policies and procedures that will enhance the performance of the Egyptian economy in a number of important axes, namely achieving macroeconomic stability and increasing efficiency. Financial policies and monetary resources, enhancing the investment environment, increasing private sector participation in the economy, enhancing labor market efficiency, creating decent job opportunities, and supporting the transition towards a green economy.
She also referred to the report on the country review of artificial intelligence policies in Egypt, where the importance of This report is an effective tool for formulating evidence-based policies, in addition to relying on the recommendations contained in the report in implementing the second phase of the national strategy for artificial intelligence, noting also the inclusion of Egypt in the organization’s Going Digital Toolkit, within the framework of activating the second axis projects. For the program, this group aims to help the Egyptian government evaluate the state of digital transformation and formulate appropriate policies that will enhance digital transformation in all fields.
It also indicated the launch of the report reviewing green growth policies in Egypt, which provided specific insights and recommendations. To enhance the transition towards a green economy through a number of important environmental axes, namely improving environmental governance and management to promote green transformation, greening the tax and fee system, promoting green investment, as well as recommendations related to climate-smart cities and enhancing urban governance.
She stated that: Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding With the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development during the annual meetings of the World Bank Group in Washington, the program was extended to end in 2025 instead of 2024, and therefore a number of important projects are being completed and their outcomes benefited, most notably the productivity enhancement project by focusing on the industrial sector, and reviewing Higher education and innovation policies, in addition to the inclusion of Egypt in the value-added trade database, which is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year, in addition to the first technical report on reviewing business dynamics, which is scheduled to be launched at the beginning of the year. 2025.
The Minister discussed cooperation with the organization in preparing the “Sharm El-Sheikh Guide to Fair Financing.” During the COP27 climate conference, in line with strengthening climate finance, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation with the organization in order to accelerate the pace of implementation of the sustainable development goals with less than a decade until 2030, in addition to discussing cooperation with the organization regarding the carbon limits adjustment mechanism (CBAM). During technical support.
She highlighted the establishment of the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship with the aim of enhancing the ability of emerging companies and the entrepreneurship environment to achieve sustainable and accelerated economic growth based on competitiveness and knowledge that contributes to creating… Decent job opportunities, the technical working groups formed and the main tasks of each group, pointing to Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 climate conference and the World Urban Forum within the framework of the role that Egypt plays as an active country in international forums to address sustainable development issues.
For his part, The Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that Africa is the only continent that does not have members in the organization, and we hope that Egypt will be the first member country, and the launch of the country program is an important step towards that, and over the past period, great progress has been made. With regard to joint work with Egypt to implement the country program projects, pointing to the most important projects of the program and what was achieved during the last period.
