African investment entity planned by Egypt as it seeks expanded BADEA funding

Egypt plans to establish a new investment entity to coordinate its investments in Africa and is urging the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to expand its backing for continental infrastructure and trade initiatives, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday.

Abdelatty, who serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, and Egypt’s governor at BADEA, made the remarks during a meeting with BADEA Chairman Fahd Al-Dosari on August 16. The bilateral talks were followed by an expanded session with private sector representatives and Al-Dosari, aimed at supporting Egyptian companies expanding into African markets to achieve economic development targets and Egypt’s Vision 2030.

Addressing the expanded gathering—part of a new edition of the “BRIDGE” dialogue sessions designed to integrate the private sector with the foreign ministry and development partners—Abdelatty outlined state efforts to support development in African nations. These include launching a funding mechanism to study and implement infrastructure projects and establishing the Egyptian Agency for Guaranteeing Exports and Investment to mitigate investment risks.

He stressed the importance of creating a dedicated Egyptian investment entity involving government bodies, the banking sector, and private firms, alongside an integrated database of priority investment opportunities in Africa to raise the competitiveness and success rates of Egyptian companies. Abdelatty affirmed the state’s commitment to coordinating with African governments and institutions to remove procedural and regulatory obstacles facing Egyptian businesses.

During his bilateral talks with Al-Dosari, Abdelatty described supporting African development as a steadfast priority of Egyptian foreign policy. Building on their previous meeting in Washington on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, he called for moving to specific executive cooperation tracks to utilise Egypt’s expertise in infrastructure and sustainable development.

Abdelatty requested BADEA’s expanded contribution to Egyptian initiatives, including technical support and capacity-building programmes implemented by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development. He also sought the bank’s backing, in cooperation with Egyptian banking institutions, to enhance intra-African trade through export, import, and supply chain financing, as well as guarantee and risk-sharing tools, thereby advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area targets.

The private sector meeting featured a presentation by the foreign ministry’s economic sector on the “Hafez” platform for financial and technical support, highlighting its integration with the BRIDGE sessions to connect businesses with international partners. BADEA representatives also presented their financing tools and services available for private sector projects in Africa.

Abdelatty urged small and medium-sized enterprises to utilise the platform, noting that promotional roadshows in several governorates had attracted 219 companies from sectors including tourism, handicrafts, agriculture, food industries, ready-made garments, textiles, engineering industries, logistics, and information technology.

The session concluded with an open discussion where Abdelatty and Al-Dosari listened to private sector proposals regarding market challenges and ways to improve access to funding. Separately, Abdelatty invited the BADEA chairman to participate in the Africa Business Forum, scheduled to be held in New Alamein in October 2026, to further promote investment and trade between Egypt and African nations.