Under the patronage of the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Mr. Hassan Abdullah, and within the framework of enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors in Arab countries, the Arab Banking Conference 2025 was launched in Cairo. The event witnessed the participation of a distinguished group of leaders from the banking and financial sectors across the region.
With the involvement of representatives from governments and financial institutions, this year’s conference focused on discussing mechanisms for public-private partnerships and how to develop effective frameworks for financing the economy, aligning with sustainable development goals and green finance. The conference highlighted the importance of integrating sustainability and inclusivity in partnership strategies to achieve regional economic integration.
In a discussion session titled “The Regulatory and Political Framework for Enabling Effective Partnerships,” Dr. Nermeen Tahoun, the economic expert and founding partner of “Tahoun Legal Consulting,” emphasized the significance of partnership contracts as a strategic tool for financing infrastructure and public utility projects.
Dr. Tahoun explained that a sound legal and institutional framework alone is not sufficient to ensure the success of these partnerships. It must be accompanied by effective institutional arrangements, primarily the establishment of a dedicated unit for public-private partnerships, supported by resources and competencies, with active participation from government agencies, particularly ministries of finance and purchasing and contracting authorities.
She also stressed the need to align public policies with private sector incentives to ensure positive outcomes at the macroeconomic level. Dr. Tahoun pointed out that partnership investments in Egypt amounted to EGP 19.8 billion during the fiscal year 2023/2024, covering sectors such as dry ports, electricity networks, vocational education, and strategic commodity storage. According to government statements, the state is set to launch six new projects in collaboration with the private sector, with a total value exceeding EGP 27 billion during the fiscal year 2024/2025.
Regionally, Dr. Tahoun noted that public-private partnership investments in the Middle East and North Africa region doubled from USD 1.4 billion in 2022 to USD 2.9 billion in 2023, with energy projects accounting for around 62% of total projects in 2024, led by countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Dr. Tahoun concluded by stating, “Some Arab countries have achieved successful steps in implementing public-private partnership projects in vital sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, and education. However, there are still a number of challenges hindering the expansion of these partnerships and maximizing their potential. These include legal and regulatory obstacles, weak institutional infrastructure, and conflicting incentives between the public and private sectors, which make it difficult to implement partnership models effectively.”
