Planning minister pushes digital payments partnerships with national fintech firms

Ahmed Rostom, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, convened a high-level meeting with senior executives from national financial and fintech institutions to advance the country’s electronic payments infrastructure. Participants included Ashraf Negm, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the National Investment Bank (NIB); Osama Saleh, Chairperson of Ayady for Investment and Development and former Minister of Investment; Rafeh Saleh, CEO of the Entrepreneurship Sector at NI Capital; and Hazem Saafan, Chairperson of Sahl Electronic Payments. Heba Zaki, Director of the Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, and other senior ministry officials also attended.

"Digital transformation and the modernization of government services are central pillars of Egypt’s sustainable development agenda," Rostom said, underlining the meeting’s focus on public-sector reform and inclusion through technology.

Meeting objectives and participants

• Ashraf Negm — Vice Chairperson and Managing Director, National Investment Bank (NIB)
• Osama Saleh — Chairperson, Ayady for Investment and Development; former Minister of Investment
• Rafeh Saleh — CEO, Entrepreneurship Sector, NI Capital
• Hazem Saafan — Chairperson, Sahl Electronic Payments
• Heba Zaki — Director, Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre

The discussions centered on strengthening cooperation between the public sector and national fintech firms to develop and expand Egypt’s electronic payments system. Officials framed the drive as a means to improve citizens’ living standards and to enhance the efficiency of public services. According to the ministry’s account, the talks also covered investment projects affiliated with the National Investment Bank and ongoing efforts to reinforce Egypt’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

Rostom emphasized the need to "forge strong partnerships with the private sector to leverage modern expertise and technologies, thereby delivering more efficient and accessible services to citizens." The minister framed collaboration with domestic fintech companies as a critical component in advancing Egypt’s digital infrastructure and achieving wider financial inclusion.

Representatives from the participating companies, particularly those operating in the smart payments sector, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting state initiatives. The meeting reviewed mechanisms to expand the use of modern digital solutions across government and public services, with attendees examining the latest technologies offered by Sahl Electronic Payments in the field of digital payments.

Officials highlighted that these efforts align with Egypt’s broader orientation toward building an integrated digital economy. NI Capital’s entrepreneurship arm and the Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre were cited as key partners for scaling innovative payment solutions and fostering startups that can contribute to public-service modernization.

Looking ahead, the parties signalled an intention to accelerate pilot projects and identify practical deployment paths for smart-payment platforms within government services. While the meeting did not announce specific funding figures or timelines, it established a policy direction focused on public–private coordination, NIB-linked investment projects, and targeted expansion of cashless transaction infrastructure across public-service channels.