Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, discussed with heads of Egyptian and bilateral BSOs the available opportunities to stimulate the role played by the private sector in the development efforts undertaken by the state, through international partnerships.

Minister Al Mashat highlighted that in light of the focus of many development partners, including the European Union, the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for providing development finance to BSOs and the private sector and proposed holding a meeting with bilateral and multilateral development partners to present the wish list of the BSOs based on a survey of the needs of their members to streamline new initiatives that are demand driven and contribute to the SDGs.

Secretary General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations “CEEBA” highlighted the huge support provided by the Ministry, which is highly visible through the ongoing 13 EU funded ENI CBC Med and EU ENI EBSOMED regional projects implemented by CEEBA, ASCAME and BUSINESSMED which are building solid cooperation bridges across the Mediterranean between over 100 BSOs from the 38 Euro-Mediterranean countries with a budget exceeding €50 million.

Co-financed by the European Commission, EBSOMED is a 4-year project which was officially launched in June 2018 in Tunis. The project aims at boosting the Mediterranean business ecosystem and promoting inclusive economic growth and job creation, by enhancing the private sector environment and namely the Business Support Organisations in the Southern Neighbourhood countries.

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