EBRD and Arab Fund partner for the first time

• Arab Fund working with the EBRD for the first time
• Technical cooperation project will support more than 140 MSMEs in Egypt
• Focus on inclusion, digitalisation and green transformation

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, working with it on a project supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Egypt.

This technical cooperation project will provide advisory services and institutional support to more than 40 MSMEs across the country, with a strong focus on women- and youth-led businesses. Activities will include tailored business advice and support for digital and green transformation, as well as seminars, workshops and training sessions fostering market development.

Expected outcomes include improved productivity, increased turnover and greater access to finance, as well as job creation at beneficiary firms.

Bader Alsaad, Director General of the Arab Fund and Chairman of its Board of Directors, said: “MSMEs are the backbone of Egypt’s economy, vital for job creation and youth integration. Together with the EBRD, we will provide essential advice and technical assistance to empower these businesses with the capacity needed to thrive. This commitment directly aligns with our new strategy, which aims to maximise development impact through job creation, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Mark Davis, the EBRD’s Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, said: “The EBRD has been supporting MSMEs in Egypt since 2012, helping them to become more competitive, resilient and sustainable. We are excited to launch this new cooperation with the Arab Fund, a new donor partner. The tailored advice and expertise offered through this project will directly respond to the needs of local businesses, helping them to grow, innovate and thrive.

This is the Arab Fund’s first cooperation agreement with the EBRD – and the first time the Bank has received funding from a donor based in the Arab world. The EBRD hopes this will mark the start of wider regional cooperation supporting private-sector development across the economies where it invests.

Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD and has been a recipient of funding since 2012. To date, the Bank has invested more than €13 billion in the country across 203 projects.