Arab Finance: Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom met with Erik Sandersen, CEO of the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund), to explore cooperation on guarantees for infrastructure financing and investment in renewable energy, according to a ministry statement.

The talks took place in Bangkok, Thailand, during the third day of the minister’s participation in the 81st Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, as part of his meetings with development partners.

Rostom outlined Egypt’s Infrastructure Financing Guarantee Facility (IFGF), which aims to encourage private sector participation by providing guarantees for projects designated as national priorities. The discussions examined how the facility could reduce financing risks and attract investment into infrastructure and renewable energy.

The IFGF targets key sectors, including infrastructure development in industrial zones, to lower carbon emissions while improving investors’ productive capacity and competitiveness.

Renewable energy opportunities under consideration included distributed generation projects serving industrial facilities, energy storage solutions, and infrastructure needed to accommodate additional renewable energy capacity. These areas were part of discussions on supporting Egypt’s transition to a green economy.

Sandersen expressed interest in receiving further details about the IFGF, understanding where it could be applied, and exploring potential participation. The ministry said such engagement could help expand infrastructure investment and deepen development cooperation between Egypt and Norway.