Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of the National Planning Institute, participated in the "Green DNA: Sustainable Finance and Impactful Investment" conference.

The conference brought together a select group of Egyptian and international government officials and experts to discuss mechanisms for accelerating the transition to a green economy, mobilizing stakeholders to create opportunities, and maximizing the return on investment in the green economy and Egypt's future economic roadmap.

During the conference, discussions revolved around green financing products, the importance of technical support for ensuring sustainable impact, the Capital Market Law for carbon trading certificates, sustainable growth opportunities in attractive sectors, and green supply chains.

In his speech, Dr. Ashraf El-Araby emphasized that the Egyptian government attaches great importance to the environmental dimension and the green transition. Egypt is diligently working to enhance sustainability in all areas, including energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry, through collaboration with local and international stakeholders to achieve a smooth and sustainable transition.

Dr. El-Araby highlighted the role of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in supporting environmental issues, as demonstrated by the launch of the "Environmental Sustainability Standards: The Strategic Framework for Green Recovery" guide in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and coordination with relevant government entities.

This guide aims to raise awareness about sectors and interventions with a direct positive impact on the environment, enabling ambitious steps towards achieving sustainable development. It also sets the foundation for "greening public investments," with green investments reaching 15% in 2020 and surpassing 40% in 2022-2023, amounting to over 400 billion Egyptian pounds that adhere to environmental sustainability standards.

Regarding the role of the Ministry of Environment in the green transition, Dr. El-Araby highlighted that the ministry launched the International Climate Change Strategy through Egypt Vision 2030, which translates into green standards and projects.

He also praised the efforts of the Ministry of International Cooperation through Egypt's Country Platform, a national program that serves as an effective and comprehensive regional model for facilitating financing related to adaptation, mitigation, and resilience. Egypt has developed a comprehensive national strategy for climate change, including key objectives up to 2050.

Dr. El-Araby focused on the institute's role in planning the green transition, including the preparation of a study on green national accounts and green gross domestic product (GDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

The second phase of this study aims to ensure that all national accounts are green, whether in terms of investment or consumption.

He emphasized that the institute has conducted intensive training courses, both independently and in collaboration with other entities, such as training the private sector on preparing sustainability reports according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) methodology in partnership with D-Carbon and the Fifty Forum, a leading influential platform.

Furthermore, the institute's role encompasses issuing the Carbon Footprint Report and the Arab Development Report titled "Climate Change and Its Impact on Arab Growth and Development" in collaboration with the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, the Arab Economic Research Association, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The report is set to be launched in November in Dubai, as Dubai hosts the upcoming COP28 Climate Change Conference.

Egypt's commitment to the green economy and sustainable development has gained significant momentum, as evidenced by the active participation of government officials, experts, and stakeholders in conferences and discussions.

The government's focus on environmental sustainability, green financing, and green investments underscores its dedication to fostering a sustainable future. Egypt's comprehensive national strategies, collaborations with international entities, and the implementation of sustainability standards contribute to the country's transition towards a greener and more resilient economy.