Egypt has developed a State Ownership Policy Index to track progress in empowering the private sector and reshaping the state’s role in the economy, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat announced.
Al-Mashat made her statements during the launch event of Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development held in the New Administrative Capital.
The index, developed by the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), will serve as a quantitative tool to measure implementation of the government’s State Ownership Policy Document, a cornerstone of Egypt’s structural reform program. It will monitor not only policy rollouts but also their economic impact, linking declared goals to on-the-ground results to ensure transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.
Egypt has launched only two reports on the advancement of the policy since its launch in 2022. The last report was issued in August 2024.
“The index provides an objective, data-driven mechanism to assess reform outcomes and guide future policy,” Al-Mashat said.
The initiative establishes a coordinated framework between three entities: the Cabinet’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Unit, the Egypt Sovereign Wealth Fund, and the Government IPO Unit.
The SOE Unit will evaluate the viability of state-owned companies and prepare clear roadmaps for restructuring or privatization. The Sovereign Wealth Fund will act as the state’s investment arm, managing assets efficiently and attracting local and foreign investment. At the same time, the IPO Unit will oversee the process of bringing public assets to market.
A significant element of the narrative involves the restructuring of 59 out of 63 economic authorities to enhance efficiency, eliminate overlapping mandates, and rationalize public spending. Plans include mergers, conversions, or liquidations, reflecting the government’s push to modernize state institutions and attract investment.
The narrative, aligned with Egypt Vision 2030, seeks to accelerate reforms, expand investment in high-productivity sectors, and strengthen the country’s export competitiveness. It marks a strategic shift from direct state operations to a regulatory and enabling role, opening more space for private sector leadership.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
