Cairo - Mubasher: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) unveiled five new initiatives in Egypt aimed at advancing climate finance, healthcare, food security, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) development, according to a press release.

Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), said “Climate change is no longer an environmental issue but has evolved into a financial one.”

“Within this framework, the CBE is playing a pivotal role in catalyzing the banking sector’s transition towards a more sustainable future through issuing the Sustainable Finance Guiding Principles in 2021, the Sustainable Finance Binding Regulations in 2022, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reporting requirements in 2025,” he added.

Cooperation with Banque Misr

IFC inked a $150 million contract with Banque Misr to scale up green finance in Egypt, accelerating investments in energy efficiency, sustainable transport, green buildings, and renewable energy.

This move aims to expand access to finance for MSMEs, with a focus on inclusion by dedicating 20% of lending to women-owned businesses.

EBank’s Advisory Program

IFC launched an advisory program with the Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) to enhance data governance and climate reporting under its Egypt30by30 initiative.

The program will enable the EGX-listed lender to identify and track the impact of green transactions, boosting its involvement in climate-positive projects and supporting Egypt’s transition to a green economy.

GlobalCorp Group’s Partnership

The cooperation also partnered with GlobalCorp Group, a leading Egyptian NBFI platform, to expand access to leasing and factoring for MSMEs, particularly in vulnerable communities across Egypt.

Backed by a dual‑currency $30 million investment, the initiative strengthens private sector resilience and diversifies funding sources. It also supports capital market development through IFC’s first local‑currency securitization in Egypt and the country’s first DFI investment in a leasing securitization.

Expanding Healthcare Access

The agency partnered with GMED Holding and its subsidiaries, EGMED, to expand access to quality healthcare across Egypt and East Africa by boosting production capacity and providing high-quality medical products and equipment. With a $15 million investment, the initiative strengthens healthcare infrastructure and builds local capacity through specialized training for medical staff on the latest medical technologies.

Boosting Food Security

IFC teamed up with Breadfast, a multi-vertical consumer supply chain technology platform, to accelerate business expansion and create large-scale employment across logistics, manufacturing, technology, and customer service.

Through $13 million, both sides will strengthen food security through advanced distribution infrastructure and expand market access for SMEs in the retail sector.

Ethiopis Tafara, IFC’s Vice President for Africa, commented: "Through our investment and advisory engagements, we are supporting the advancement of national priorities, from clean energy and climate finance to healthcare and MSME development, for a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive Egyptian economy."