Through its presidency of an international initiative, Egypt is leading the path of sustainable development

Through its presidency of an international initiative.. Egypt is leading the path of sustainable development

In a new step that reflects the country’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and strengthening regional partnerships, Egypt assumed the co-chairmanship of the Governance and Competitiveness for Development Initiative of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  for the Middle East and North Africa region, for the period from 2026 to 2030, succeeding Tunisia, and in partnership with Italy and Turkey.

This step comes within an ambitious vision that aims to consolidate Egypt’s position as a center for formulating evidence-based development policies, and activating tools of economic governance and regional integration, in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030, especially in its social and economic dimensions.

Egypt assumes the presidency at a pivotal moment

The announcement came during the Steering Committee meeting held in France a few days ago, under the title “Dealing withGlobal Transformations in the Middle East and North Africa,” which highlights the importance of the Egyptian role in formulating flexible and effective responses to international changes, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which is considered one of the most prominent platforms for policy coordination between governments.

__EG_PH_19Earth Guards highlights this moment as a strategic turning point in the structure of regional development work. It indicates that active Egyptian participation in such initiatives enhances the region’s ability to confront global challenges with a collective and knowledge-based vision.

Egypt has a multidimensional development vision

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, indicated during her opening speech at the meeting that Egypt will work to deepen multilateral cooperation and develop political dialogue between the countries of the region, based on its firm commitment to building more comprehensive and sustainable economies, which reflects its desire to enhance regional integration and achieve sustainable development that includes all parties.

This statement highlights the qualitative shift in the Egyptian development discourse, which is no longer limited to internal trends only, but has become open to the regional environment, and aims to achieve joint development with the countries of the region. This trend also reflects Egypt’s commitment to the basic principles of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which stress the importance of cooperation between countries in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Towards a new phase of sustainable development

This presidency comes within the framework of the country partnership program between Egypt and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which was launched in 2021, and includes 35 development projects whose themes vary between comprehensive economic growth, governance, statistics, innovation, and sustainable development.

These areas are closely aligned with the directions of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which focuses on long-term structural reforms, aimed at promoting social justice, improving the business environment, as well as investing in human capital. This program is a model of regional cooperation supported by data and evidence, and constitutes a basic framework for formulating implementable policies that are compatible with developments in reality and keep pace with future challenges.

The program’s outcomes are reflected in practical initiatives embodied in supporting women’s economic and social empowerment, increasing decent work opportunities, and developing human competencies, in addition to improving the efficiency of economic and institutional management. These initiatives constitute strategic axes for building a more balanced and inclusive economy that gives priority to underrepresented groups and provides a stimulating environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Egypt is moving towards advanced technology

Egypt was not limited to its coordination role, but its influence extended to very important future areas, most notably digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Egypt led the development of the national strategy for artificial intelligence in partnership with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and launched the second phase of it on January 22 of this year, within the framework of supporting innovation and technological transformation.

Egypt also chaired the two working groups concerned with artificial intelligence in both the African Union and the League of Arab States; Which highlights its leadership role in enhancing regional cooperation in these advanced fields, and this development is a pivotal step for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which seeks to build a flexible digital economy capable of responding to future challenges.

Strengthening value chains and integration with Africa

In addition, Egypt participates in the “Trade in Value Added” initiative, which is an important statistical tool provided by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with the aim of enhancing the country’s integration into global value chains. This initiative is a qualitative step that contributes to opening new horizons for national industries, and supporting their competitiveness in foreign markets, through a deeper understanding of the paths of production and international trade. This participation also represents a gateway to building effective partnerships with African countries, through the exchange of technical expertise, and facilitating the movement of transit trade. borders, and promoting regional economic integration.

This approach comes as part of a comprehensive Egyptian strategy that seeks to exploit the country’s distinguished geographical location as a bridge between the continents of Asia and Africa. To transform it into a strategic logistics and investment platform that serves the African continent and supports its sustainable development.

Strengthening regional value chains is considered a fundamental pillar for achieving this goal, as it opens the way for cooperation in areas such as technology transfer, human skills development, and industrial infrastructure development, in line with the priorities of Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Women Empowerment

In her opening speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat also focused on the existing partnership with the World Economic Forum to launch the catalyst for closing the gender gap, which represents a qualitative step towards enhancing financial inclusion and entrepreneurship for women. She noted that Egypt had hosted in November 2024 the launch of a joint project with the European Union; In order to enhance the financial inclusion of women in the southern Mediterranean.

She explained that this project not only represents a response to equality requirements, but is also an effective tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing structural gaps and enhancing women’s participation in economic activity, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is a fundamental pillar of Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Therefore,Earth Guardssees that Egypt’s joint presidency of this major regional initiative does not reflect a ceremonial role, but rather reflects a clear strategy, based on knowledge exchange, policy coordination, and empowering countries with the tools for sustainable growth. It is a step that represents an extension of a path that Egypt began years ago. To confirm that sustainable development is not only a local goal, but rather a participatory regional project, in which efforts intersect and visions are united.