The minister held the meeting with the participation of Dr. Hashem El-Sayed, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Chief Executive Officer of the State-Owned Enterprises Unit, via video conference, and Dr. Ashraf Shoukry, Deputy Head of the Unit.
The meeting discussed ways to support the State-Owned
Enterprises Inventory, Monitoring, and Regulation Unit in activating its
executive role in line with international best practices.
During the meeting, Dr. Ashraf Shoukry, Deputy Head of the
State-Owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit, reviewed the unit’s role under Law
No. 170 of 2025, which regulates certain provisions related to state ownership
in companies wholly owned by the state or in which it holds stakes. He
explained that the unit develops restructuring programs for these companies and
monitors their implementation through specific and binding timelines. He noted
that this supports the implementation of the State Ownership Policy Document,
enhances private sector participation, and includes proposing the necessary
regulatory and legal frameworks to improve the performance of these companies.
The meeting also discussed avenues for technical cooperation
with the World Bank to strengthen the mandates of the State-Owned Enterprises
Restructuring Unit. Discussions focused on sharing international experiences in
the governance of state-owned enterprises and contributing to building the
technical capacities of the unit’s staff. Proposals for cooperation to support
the implementation of the State Ownership Policy Document were also reviewed.
For her part, the Minister of Planning, Economic
Development, and International Cooperation affirmed that the government,
through the National Narrative for Comprehensive Development, seeks to redefine
the role of the state in the economy and empower the private sector. She
explained that the state is gradually transitioning into a regulator and
enabler that sets the overall framework and creates a conducive environment for
private sector investment. She noted that the implementation of this vision
relies on the integration of the tools of three key entities: the State-Owned
Enterprises Unit affiliated with the Cabinet, the Sovereign Fund, and the
Government Offerings Unit. She added that the State Ownership Policy Document
serves as the main reference defining the framework of state intervention
across various sectors.
She pointed out that Egypt is the first country in the
region to adopt a State Ownership Policy Document. She added that Egypt has
recently enacted Law No. 170 of 2025 on state-owned enterprises, which
represents a key measure within the National Structural Reforms Program aimed
at empowering the private sector and improving the business environment. She
noted that this reflects the government’s strong commitment to reforming this
sector and represents a significant institutional development in the management
of state assets.
She stated that state-owned enterprises in Egypt play a
pivotal role in the national economy, particularly across several strategic
sectors.
Al-Mashat added that Egypt launched the State Ownership Policy
Document in 2022 with the aim of redefining the state’s role in economic
activity by reducing the state’s presence in competitive sectors, enhancing
governance and transparency, encouraging the maximization of returns on state
assets, and expanding private sector participation. She noted that the State
Ownership Policy Document is currently being updated in light of recent
developments and changes that have taken place over the past period.
She concluded by noting that the State Ownership Policy
Document and the State-Owned Enterprises Law constitute an integrated strategic
framework for managing this sector. She explained that the framework aims to
improve governance and transparency, enhance performance efficiency, ensure a
level playing field in the market, and expand partnerships with the private
sector.