Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat held Thursday a virtual roundtable with representatives of international financial institutions and the private sector in the fields of manufacturing, energy, agribusiness and logistical services sectors to discuss efforts to limit the Covid-19 crisis.

The meeting was organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and attended by officials from the World Bank, IFC, European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and African Bank for Development (AfBD).

Al-Mashat asserted the key role of private sector as a catalyst for development and the need to enhance collaboration among all development stakeholders, especially during difficult times.

Al-Mashat urged private sector participants to raise the challenges they encounter as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, including supply and demand disruptions, as well as their views on the measures needed to overcome these challenges and identify potential opportunities.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat said her ministry fosters multilateral partnerships with the Egyptian government, international financial institutions and the private sector, to mitigate the adverse economic and social effects of the pandemic, leveraging partnerships in priority sectors as part of a wider strategy in sustainable development.

Al-Mashat thanked the World Bank, IFC, EIB, EBRD and AfDB for their support for the Egyptian government and Egypt’s private sector.