Per the CBE, the inaugural session brought together heads of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) units, financial inclusion managers from banks, and key players in Egypt’s financial ecosystem, including the Credit Guarantee Company (CGC), the Egyptian Credit Bureau (i-Score), and the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI). International experts also took part, discussing the challenges of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in banking and showcasing global use cases relevant to emerging markets.
The MasterTalks series will focus on themes related to the digital transformation of the banking sector, with the overarching objective of expanding financial inclusion. Discussions highlighted the role of digital technologies in modernising banking operations and the potential of AI tools to improve access to financial and non-financial services for individuals and MSMEs, particularly among underserved segments.
The initiative aligns with the CBE’s priority of advancing financial inclusion in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its efforts to promote economic empowerment and expand access to banking services through digital transformation. These efforts have contributed to a sharp rise in financial inclusion in recent years, with the rate reaching 76.3 percent as of June 2025—an increase of 214 percent since 2016. Over the same period, banks’ lending portfolios to MSMEs grew by 395 percent.
Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD. Since the Bank began operations in the country in 2012, it has invested more than €13.5 billion in 206 projects across various sectors.
An EBRD delegation paid a visit to Egypt last week, during which the two sides inked six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand investment, energy infrastructure, and private-sector participation.
Moreover, EBRD and the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) signed a $100 million financing agreement to support MSMEs.
In an exclusive interview with Ahram Online, EBRD's First Vice President, Greg Guyett, stated that Egypt now ranks among the top four countries of operations in the bank’s regions, alongside Türkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.
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