H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, announced that Egypt has officially assumed the co-chairmanship of the MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development, succeeding Tunisia. Egypt will serve as co-chair for the 2026–2030 period, alongside Italy and Turkey.

This announcement came during the Steering Committee meeting held in France, under the theme: “Addressing Global Transformations in the MENA Region.”

The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development was launched in 2005 to foster cooperation between MENA countries and the OECD, aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive growth policies. 

The initiative supports joint efforts between governments, the OECD, civil society, and the private sector to address regional challenges and advance development priorities, including women’s empowerment, job creation, and more.

During the event, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat delivered an opening speech, she emphasized the importance of the initiative, launched nearly 20 years ago to establish a shared vision aligned with the region’s priorities and aspirations. 

 

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat noted that as the initiative enters a new phase (2026–2030), Egypt is firmly committed to multilateral cooperation and enhancing partnerships across the MENA region through knowledge exchange and evidence-based policymaking.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed appreciation for Tunisia’s leadership during the previous term and affirmed Egypt’s dedication to continuing and strengthening regional cooperation. She affirmed the importance of renewing the initiative’s mandate to make it more inclusive and flexible, stating: “We are here today to renew our commitment to collective action. Egypt stands ready to support the initiative as a platform for dialogue and policy development, capable of anticipating the future and fostering inclusive prosperity in our region.”

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat outlined key areas of cooperation between Egypt and the OECD, particularly since the launch of the OECD Country Programme in Egypt in 2021. This program focuses on five main pillars: inclusive economic growth, innovation, governance, statistics, and sustainable development. It comprises 35 projects aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the National Structural Reform Program.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat added, “As we discuss responding to global transformations in the MENA region today, we must underscore the crucial role of bilateral and regional cooperation in addressing emerging global challenges. Such cooperation helps shape progress and strengthens collective expertise to build resilience.”

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted that the Country Programme has become a strategic tool supporting national reforms, capacity building, and the exchange of policies and best practices across the region.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) are among the most promising fields for joint cooperation within the Country Programme. Through the innovation pillar, the OECD provided technical support for launching the second edition of Egypt’s National AI Strategy.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized Egypt’s central role in fostering regional AI cooperation, as chair of both the African Union AI Working Group and the Arab League AI Working Group, leading efforts to develop AI strategies across the continent.

Another key area of cooperation with the OECD is trade integration and value chains, with Egypt actively participating in the "Trade in Value Added" initiative. Egypt is keen to strengthen its position in regional and global value chains and share expertise with African countries to enhance trade integration.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted joint efforts to economically empower women, noting Egypt’s regional leadership in launching the Gender Gap Accelerator with the World Economic Forum. The accelerator aims to promote women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship. In November 2024, Egypt hosted the launch of a joint EU-OECD project on financial inclusion for women in the Southern Mediterranean.