Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa stated that the State’s economic policies are focused on stimulating the private sector, expanding its participation, and encouraging it to lead sustainable economic growth, thereby enhancing competitiveness, productivity, efficiency, and transparency. Eissa made these remarks during a meeting at the Cabinet’s headquarters in the New Capital with Chitose Noguchi, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt. The meeting, which aimed at discussing areas of cooperation, was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Samar El Ahdal, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of Climate Change and Environment Programmes at UNDP Egypt Mohamed Bayoumi, and Head of Policy and Partnerships Team at UNDP Egypt Reham Youssef.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the deputy prime minister welcomed the UNDP delegation and praised the long-standing collaboration between the two sides, describing the United Nations Development Programme as a key partner to the Egyptian government in supporting economic priorities and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development. Eissa informed the UNDP delegation about the State Ownership Policy Document and its role in maximizing private sector participation as a key partner in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and boosting Egypt’s competitiveness regionally and internationally.

The deputy premier also reviewed the structural reforms being implemented by the State to improve performance, raise institutional efficiency, and ensure the financial sustainability of state-owned assets. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and promoting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, describing entrepreneurship as a key pillar for growth. Eissa highlighted that all national bodies are working to facilitate procedures for innovative projects, provide incentives, and create an enabling environment for startups to accelerate development.

For her part, Noguchi lauded the Egyptian government’s development efforts, stating that the UNDP is keen to deepen future cooperation with Egypt. She noted that the UNDP supports the achievement of sustainable development goals in Egypt through backing economic governance policies, structural reforms, development financing, private sector support, green transition efforts, and institutional capacity building.

Noguchi also highlighted the UNDP’s expertise in entrepreneurship and startup support, pointing to cooperation with Egypt’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency. She mentioned that the UNDP focuses on providing technical support to improve the enabling environment for SMEs and apply international standards to facilitate access to financing and knowledge tools, ensuring their growth and sustainability. Furthermore, she referred to technical assistance efforts related to the green transition and renewable energy projects, including an initiative to generate 200 megawatts of solar energy to advance the shift toward solar power at several state-owned industrial facilities.

Concluding the meeting, Eissa affirmed that improving citizens’ living standards and easing daily life remain the core objectives of all economic policies and activities, while noting the important role played by the UNDP in supporting that goal.