Review of the economic reform plan during meetings on the sidelines of the Oxford Africa Conference 2026

Enhancing international cooperation and economic partnerships and intensifying economic reform programs have become among the main foundations for supporting the stability of national economies and achieving sustainable development, especially in light of the accelerating economic challenges and geopolitical tensions that the world is witnessing.

In this context, the importance of building effective communication channels with international financial institutions and the global private sector is highlighted, which contributes to attracting investments, expanding financing opportunities, and supporting long-term development plans.

This trend is also closely linked to achievingSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially with regard to economic growth, infrastructure development, and strengthening international partnerships, as economic reform plans and adopting innovative financing tools have become essential elements for building more flexible economies and the ability to adapt to international changes.

Oxford Africa Conference 2026

The Oxford Africa Conference is one of the most prominent intellectual events concerned with African issues, as it has been organized annually by the Africa Association at the University of Oxford for more than a decade, to form a platform that brings together university students, leaders, experts and influential figures from various parts of the world to discuss the future of the continent, its challenges and development opportunities.

Over the past years, the conference has gained a prominent international status thanks to the wide participation of speakers, decision-makers, academics and entrepreneurs, making it an important space for exchanging visions on economic, social and development issues related to the continent.

The conference also focuses on enhancing dialogue, cooperation, and supporting innovation by providing an environment that encourages the exchange of experiences, building partnerships, and exploring solutions to the challenges facing Africa, thus enhancing its presence in global discussions about the future and sustainable development.

The resilience of the Egyptian economy in facing challenges

In this context, Egypt participated in the Oxford Africa Conference 2026, held at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom under the slogan “Consolidating Africa’s position: Leadership in an era of turmoil.” Egypt’s participation reflects the country’s orientation towards strengthening its economic presence internationally, and reviewing economic reform and development efforts before major global financial and investment institutions, which is in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Egypt’s Vision 2030.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, was keen to hold a series of intensive meetings with representatives of major international financial institutions and the private sector. The meetings reviewed the resilience of the Egyptian economy in the face of ongoing regional and international turmoil, and the state’s efforts to implement the economic reform program at all levels, in the presence of the Egyptian ambassador to London, Ambassador Ashraf Sweilem.

The meetings of the Minister of Planning and Economic Development included bilateral discussions with: Mr. Saif Malik, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Chris Chigyotome, Executive Director and Head of Africa, British International Investment – BII, and Mr. Patrick Prang, Executive Director and Head of Infrastructure Finance for Europe and the Americas, HSBC; Mr. Himesh Patel, Head of Public Sector for Europe, Middle East and Africa at the Bank; In addition to Mr. Vomic Noor Shah, Head of Establishment Sector at the British Export Credit Agency.

Development in the performance of the Egyptian economy

During the meetings, the Minister reviewed the development of the Egyptian economy’s performance and the measures taken to support macroeconomic stability and improve the investment environment. He also revealed that economic growth for the first half of the current fiscal year recorded a remarkable development, reaching 5.3%, indicating that the development plan for the next fiscal year 2026/2027 aims to achieve a growth rate ranging between 5.2% to 5.4%.

Dr. Ahmed Rustom added that the current growth rates are confirmation of the positive impact of economic reform decisions on the productive and service sectors. From this standpoint, the government aims to increase the positive contribution of real economy sectors to the growth of the next fiscal year, so that 5 sectors will account for 64% of the targeted economic growth during 26/2027, led by manufacturing industries with a percentage of 29%, followed by the wholesale and retail trade sector with a percentage of 11.3%, then tourism with a percentage 9.3%, construction by 7.2%, and agriculture by 7%, which highlights the significant development in the process of achieving economic growth.

Developing an innovative and sustainable financing model

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development reviewed the state’s efforts to diversify innovative financing tools for infrastructure projects, including expanding partnership mechanisms with the private sector, sustainable financing tools, and enhancing the benefit of development financing to raise the efficiency of infrastructure.

Dr. Ahmed Rustom indicated at the conclusion of his meetings that the government is working on developing an innovative and sustainable financing model that aims to intelligently integrate government resources, private sector investments, and direct foreign capital to finance infrastructure projects, based on the successes and accumulated experiences that the state has achieved in building a strong base in the fields of energy, transportation, and urban development over the past years.

In conclusion, the Egyptian participation in the Oxford Africa Conference 2026 and the meetings that included it with international financial institutions and the private sector reveal an attempt to reformulate the tools for dealing with geopolitical tensions through a vision of more flexible economic reform and multiple sources of financing.

In turn,The Earth Guards Foundation confirms that efforts to diversify financing tools, strengthen partnerships with international investment institutions, and expand the role of the private sector are interconnected components in a broader path aimed at restructuring the relationship between the state and global markets on more sustainable and efficient foundations. It is a path that places economic reform at the heart of the transformation process, as a tool for repositioning the economy within an international environment characterized by accelerating fluctuations and the continuous restructuring of centers of economic power.