Five New Initiatives Launch in Egypt to Boost MSMEs & Job Creation

As Cairo hosted the Financing for Sustainable Future Forum, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, outlined five projects aimed at supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), expanding employment and strengthening climate resilience in Egypt and parts of Africa.

The forum was organised in partnership with the Central Bank of Egypt and the World Bank Group under IFC’s 30by30 programme, which seeks to mobilise private financing for climate mitigation and adaptation in Egypt, Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa. Funding support for the initiative came from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Climate Action.

A central project builds on IFC’s partnership with Banque Misr through a $150 million investment to scale green finance in Egypt. The programme targets energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport and green buildings, while expanding access to finance for MSMEs. Around 20% of the lending allocation is directed to women-owned businesses. IFC is also launching an advisory programme with the Export Development Bank of Egypt to enhance data governance and climate reporting under the Egypt 30by30 framework, enabling the bank to better identify and track green transactions.

A third initiative involves a $30 million dual-currency investment in GlobalCorp Group, a non-bank financial institution platform in Egypt, to expand leasing and factoring services for MSMEs, particularly in vulnerable communities. The transaction includes IFC’s first local-currency securitisation in Egypt and the first development finance institution investment in a leasing securitisation in the country. The project is supported by a swap rate buydown under the PROSPECTS Partnership led by the government of the Netherlands, as well as the World Bank Group’s Joint Capital Markets Programme in Egypt, backed by Switzerland through SECO and the World Bank Group’s Sustainable Finance Facility.

In healthcare, IFC partnered with GMED Holding and its subsidiaries (EGMED) through a $15 million investment to increase production capacity and availability of medical products and equipment. The project also includes specialised training for medical professionals on advanced technologies across Egypt and East Africa.

The fifth project adds a $13 million investment in Breadfast, a multi-vertical consumer supply-chain technology platform, to support expansion and employment across logistics, manufacturing, technology and customer service. The investment is also positioned to strengthen food security by enhancing distribution infrastructure and widening market access for small and medium-sized retail businesses.

Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, stated during the forum that climate change has shifted from being primarily an environmental concern to a financial one. He referred to the central bank’s Sustainable Finance Guiding Principles issued in 2021, binding sustainable finance regulations introduced in 2022, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism reporting requirements in 2025, noting that participation in the forum aligns with efforts to promote financial stability and enhance Egypt’s long-term competitiveness.

IFC leadership highlighted that the institution has invested and mobilised nearly $10 billion in Egypt since beginning operations in the country and currently manages an advisory portfolio valued at $27 million. Its engagement supports national efforts to expand access to finance, scale climate-positive investments, enhance industrial competitiveness, strengthen infrastructure, improve essential services and advance gender inclusion and digital innovation.