Egypt Studying Sustainable Development Bonds

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
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Egypt Studying Sustainable Development Bonds

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said that Egypt is considering issuing bonds linked to sustainable development.

The country is also aiming to expand its issuance of green bonds, he said, having sold $750 million in five-year green bonds in its first such sale in September.

Maait noted that there are plans to expand the issuance of green bonds to provide sustainable financing for environmentally friendly projects in the areas of housing, clean transportation, renewable energy, reducing pollution, adapting to climate change, raising energy efficiency, and the sustainable management of water and sanitation.

He added that the first offering of green bonds, worth $750 milion, has allowed Egypt to play a leading role in green development, and become a leader in the clean and environmentally friendly investment community in the region.

The minister said that the expansion of green projects will contribute to the country achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, whilst taking into account the environment.

It would help reduce pollution, improve air quality by reducing harmful carbon emissions, rationalize fuel consumption, and is consistent with efforts to maximize local components in the national industry, as well as raise growth rates, he added.

The minister said that the government aims to improve Egypt’s competitiveness in the environmental performance index and will target the implementation of 140 development projects in various sectors nationwide.



Saudi Arabia Mobilizes Private Sector for Meetings with US Companies During Trump Visit

The Saudi-American Business Forum meets at the Federation of Saudi Chambers last year. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-American Business Forum meets at the Federation of Saudi Chambers last year. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Mobilizes Private Sector for Meetings with US Companies During Trump Visit

The Saudi-American Business Forum meets at the Federation of Saudi Chambers last year. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi-American Business Forum meets at the Federation of Saudi Chambers last year. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is mobilizing its private sector to engage directly with the high-level American business delegation that will be accompanying US President Donald Trump as he visits the Kingdom on Tuesday.

Trump’s Gulf tour, which begins in Saudi Arabia before moving on to the UAE and Qatar, is expected to focus heavily on economic issues.

Top executives from leading US firms will join the president, with a number of significant agreements covering several sectors expected to be inked. Among the prominent names set to attend are BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Blackstone Chairman Stephen Schwarzman, and Google/Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat.

The executives will take part in the US-Saudi Investment Forum, which will be held in Riyadh on the day of Trump’s arrival. According to sources, the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority is coordinating closely with domestic private sector firms to ensure strong participation and to prepare for bilateral meetings between Saudi and US companies.

The forum will spotlight cross-sector investment opportunities and partnerships between the two countries, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s intent to position itself as a key global investment hub. Trump, in recent remarks, praised the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund and hinted that the US is considering launching its own.

On Tuesday, he teased “major announcements” ahead of his visit during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to expand its commercial and investment ties with the United States by $600 billion over the next four years. In a recent phone call, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the potential benefits of Trump’s proposed economic reforms and expressed interest in leveraging them to drive mutual growth.

The Kingdom is also seeking closer cooperation with Washington on global challenges, including slowdowns in international economic growth.

While Saudi-US relations have long been anchored by decades of strategic partnership, Saudi officials say Vision 2030 has further integrated the Kingdom into the global economy, allowing it to play a more influential and proactive role in shaping regional and global prosperity.