H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), welcomed a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Wednesday, 9 July, 2025, at the premises of the CBE, to discuss avenues of strengthening mutual collaboration. The delegation included Mr. Mark Davis – EBRD Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region; Mr. Mike Taylor – Director of Financial Institutions for SEMED; Mr. Hashem Abd El Hakim – EBRD Deputy Head and Head of Financial Institutions for Egypt; and Ms. Dominique Naggar – Principal Banker for Financial Institutions.

The meeting commenced with a welcome for EBRD’s new Managing Director for the SEMED, Mr. Mark Davis, followed by a review of existing cooperation frameworks between the CBE, the banking sector, and the EBRD across various fields. The discussions prioritized advancing these partnerships, with particular focus on amplifying support for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) – recognized as the fundamental pillars for promoting financial inclusion among all segments of society and driving economic development and sustainable growth. The EBRD delegation commended Egypt’s recent economic reforms, highlighting their positive impact on key economic indicators.