Arab Finance: The World Bank Group plans to provide initial financing to support Egypt’s mining sector, focusing on encouraging private-sector projects, particularly in phosphate and related industries, Global Director for Metals and Minerals Namrata Thapar said.

Thapar made the remarks during a meeting with Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi on the sidelines of the Egypt Mining Forum 2026, where the two sides discussed developing the sector and establishing financing mechanisms for mining projects.

Talks also covered capacity building and the development of technical expertise, as well as ongoing cooperation to formulate a minerals roadmap for Egypt.

The initiative will assess the country’s geological potential and identify the requirements for developing and exploiting different mineral resources, supporting efforts to maximize their economic value and integrate Egypt into global value chains.

Badawi said Egypt aims to transform its mining sector and raise its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to around 6%, from less than 1% currently. This goal will be achieved by improving the operating framework, creating a more attractive investment environment, and expanding partnerships with the private sector and international financial institutions.

Both sides stressed the need to develop mining as an integrated value chain, covering exploration, geological assessment, infrastructure, financing, extraction, processing, manufacturing, and exports. The roadmap is intended to increase the value added from Egypt’s mineral resources rather than focusing primarily on the production and export of raw materials.