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

Egypt will establish a dedicated investment entity to coordinate its investments across Africa and has pressed the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to expand support for continental infrastructure and trade initiatives, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday. Abdelatty, who also serves as Egypt’s governor at BADEA, made the remarks following bilateral talks with BADEA Chairman Fahd Al‑Dosari on August 16 and an expanded session with private sector representatives.

"Supporting African development is a steadfast priority of Egyptian foreign policy," Abdelatty said during the meeting, calling for the move to "specific executive cooperation tracks to utilise Egypt's expertise in infrastructure and sustainable development."

New entity, dedicated database and risk mitigation tools

Abdelatty outlined a package of state measures designed to bolster Egyptian companies’ competitiveness in African markets. Central to the plan is the creation of a "dedicated Egyptian investment entity" that would bring together government bodies, the banking sector and private firms. The ministry also plans an integrated database of priority investment opportunities across Africa to raise the success rates of Egyptian businesses.

To reduce investor risk, Abdelatty highlighted two complementary instruments: a funding mechanism to study and implement infrastructure projects and the newly proposed Egyptian Agency for Guaranteeing Exports and Investment. He also requested BADEA’s expanded contribution to Egyptian initiatives, seeking technical support and capacity‑building programmes implemented by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development.

Private sector integration and the Hafez platform

The bilateral meeting was followed by an expanded BRIDGE session — a dialogue platform designed to integrate the private sector with the foreign ministry and development partners. The foreign ministry’s economic sector presented the "Hafez" platform for financial and technical support, which is being promoted to connect businesses with international partners and funding.

Abdelatty urged small and medium‑sized enterprises to "utilise the platform," noting that promotional roadshows across several governorates had attracted 219 companies so far. Those participating companies represent a broad cross‑section of the economy, including:

• tourism
• handicrafts
• agriculture and food industries
• ready‑made garments and textiles
• engineering industries
• logistics and information technology

Representatives from BADEA presented the bank’s financing tools and services available for private sector projects in Africa. Abdelatty called for BADEA, in cooperation with Egyptian banking institutions, to back measures that will enhance intra‑African trade through export, import and supply‑chain financing, as well as guarantee and risk‑sharing tools to advance African Continental Free Trade Area targets.

Outlook — financing, forums and follow-up

Both sides agreed that the next step should be practical executive cooperation. Building on a previous meeting in Washington during the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, Abdelatty emphasised moving to operational partnerships that leverage Egypt’s infrastructure and sustainable development expertise.

Abdelatty also invited BADEA Chairman Fahd Al‑Dosari to participate in the Africa Business Forum scheduled for October 2026 in New Alamein, framing the event as an opportunity to further promote investment and trade ties between Egypt and African nations. The expanded engagement with the private sector — combined with a new investment vehicle, risk‑mitigation guarantees and strengthened BADEA support — sets the stage for a more coordinated push by Egyptian companies into African markets.