EBRD backs MSMEs in Egypt in partnership with NBE

• New loan to National Bank of Egypt supports MSMEs
• Financing will focus on women-led, youth-led and rural businesses
• Project builds on longstanding partnership with EBRD

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a US$ 100 million loan to National Bank of Egypt (NBE) to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Egypt, with a focus on rural outreach and women- and youth-led entrepreneurship.
NBE will lend this financing on to private Egyptian MSMEs.

This project builds on the longstanding relationship between the EBRD and NBE, seeking to reduce the funding gap faced by women-led, youth-led and rural MSMEs in Egypt. NBE has been an important partner to the EBRD in piloting the flagship Women in Business and Youth in Business programmes in Egypt.

Established in 1898, NBE is a commercial bank organised as a joint-stock company and is wholly owned by the Egyptian Ministry of Finance. NBE is the largest bank in Egypt.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation and Egypt's Governor at the EBRD, said: "This transaction between our the largest Egyptian bank, NBE, and the EBRD is a great example of how Egypt establishes IFI partnerships and how we are advancing private-sector empowerment and mobilizing investment by expanding access to finance for banks and companies. This helps strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and Egypt’s transition toward a private-sector–led, production-driven economic model in line with Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development. These efforts go hand-in-hand with ongoing economic and structural reforms, including the ceilings on public investments, strengthening macroeconomic stability, improving business and investment climate, and accelerating the green transition.”

The EBRD’s First Vice President, Greg Guyett, said: “This new loan to NBE represents an important milestone in our longstanding partnership. Together, we are expanding opportunities for MSMEs across the country – especially for women- and youth-led businesses that are driving innovation and inclusive growth. We are proud to support the next generation of entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses and drive sustainable development of Egypt.”

NBE’s CEO, Mohamed El-Etreby, said: “Our collaboration with the EBRD continues to deliver meaningful impact for Egypt’s private sector. This new facility allows us to channel vital resources to MSMEs, especially for women and young entrepreneurs, who play an essential role in driving economic resilience. At NBE, we are dedicated to expanding access to finance, strengthening productive capacity, and ensuring that inclusive growth reaches every part of the country.”

The EBRD financing will potentially be accompanied by the mobilisation of extra funding from investors, with an additional sum of up to US$ 100 million possibly being made available.

Egypt is a founding member of the EBRD. Since the start of its operations there in 2012, the Bank has invested more than €13.8 billion in the country across 209 projects.