• EBRD invested over €1.4 billion in Egypt in 2024, 84 per cent in the private sector
• €765 million disbursed in 2024 to support the implementation of key projects
• Bank invested over €2.4 billion in 50 new projects in the SEMED region in 2024 

Egypt was the primary recipient of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 2024 investment in the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, with new commitments to 26 projects totalling more than €1.4 billion, of which 84 per cent were in the private sector. 

The Bank also disbursed €765 million in Egypt in 2024 to support the implementation of key infrastructural projects and to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, bringing its total disbursements to more than €1.3 billion since the start of its operations there in 2012. 

Continuing to support the country’s green transition, 49.4 per cent of the Bank’s investments in Egypt in 2024 were to promote the green economy. 

The Bank invested US$ 100 million in the inaugural US$ 500 million sustainability bond issued by Arab African International Bank (AAIB), paving the way for more such issuance and setting a benchmark for others. Seventy-five per cent of the bond’s proceeds will be allocated to green financing, such as industrial energy-efficiency, small-scale renewable energy projects and green buildings, while 25 per cent will be allocated to supporting social goals, including inclusive finance and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Under Egypt’s country platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE), the Bank arranged a syndicated loan worth US$ 275 million to Suez Wind for the construction and operation of one of the largest wind farms in Africa. The wind farm in the Gulf of Suez region will have an installed capacity of 1.1 GW and will provide clean, renewable power at a lower cost than conventional generation. 

The EBRD also continued to promote the digital transition in Egypt through an equity investment in Paymob as part of a US$ 22 million financing round. The investment comes under the Bank’s Venture Capital Investment Programme, which supports early- and growth-stage technology companies. 

To foster a more inclusive economy in Egypt, around 60 per cent of the Bank’s 2024 investments incorporated a focus on women’s economic empowerment. More than one-third of projects supported initiatives that explicitly address inequality while strengthening workforce capacity.  

Under the EBRD’s small business advisory programme, Advice for Small Businesses, supported by the European Union (EU), more than 700 small Egyptian enterprises received advisory services and training.  

In a continued show of support, in 2024, the Bank made more than €2.4 billion of new investments in 50 projects across the SEMED region, 92 per cent of them in the private sector. 

The region also continued to benefit from strong donor support, including from the EU, the EBRD SEMED Multi-Donor Account,* the Green Climate Fund, the Global Concessional Financing Facility and other donors.  

*Comprising Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Taipei China and the United Kingdom.