Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom met with Norway's Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, as they discussed ways to strengthen development and investment partnerships between the two countries. “The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the United Nations headquarters in New York,” according to a statement released by the Planning Ministry on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Rostom said both sides praised strong bilateral ties across economic, development and humanitarian fields, as well as ongoing coordination on regional issues and efforts to support peace and stability. The Minister of Planning reviewed the economic repercussions of geopolitical tensions in the region and the precautionary measures taken by the Egyptian government to strengthen the resilience of the national economy against external shocks.
He said the Egyptian economy has maintained positive growth rates, supported by the strong performance of key sectors, particularly tourism and remittances from Egyptians working abroad, alongside the continued implementation of structural economic reforms. Rostom said that he agreed with Aukrust on the importance of intensifying international efforts to contain regional tensions and enhance stability to mitigate the economic and humanitarian consequences of conflicts and support sustainable development.
He underlined the significance of expanding renewable energy projects as a key pillar of the green transition and energy security, praising Norwegian investments in Egypt, particularly those of Scatec, as a successful model of bilateral cooperation in clean energy and green hydrogen.
At the end of the meeting, Rostom reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Nordic countries, particularly Norway, to support development priorities, attract sustainable investments, and broaden economic collaboration. The Inauguration of the State Strategic Command Headquarters “The Octagon” in the New Capital President Sisi inaugurates 'Octagon' Strategic Command headquarters in New Capital The Inauguration of the State Strategic Command Headquarters “The Octagon” in the New Capital President Sisi inaugurates 'Octagon' Strategic Command headquarters in New Capital