Egypt’s c.bank prepares second national financial inclusion strategy for 2026-2030
The new strategy targets digital finance, green funding and informal economy integration
Egypt’s central bank is preparing a second national financial inclusion strategy covering 2026-2030, with a greater focus on digital financial services, sustainable finance, and the integration of the informal economy into the formal financial system, it said on Thursday.
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said the strategy is being developed in cooperation with relevant ministries and government authorities as part of its broader efforts to strengthen financial inclusion and support sustainable economic development.
The new strategy moves beyond expanding access to financial services by emphasising their effective, secure, and sustainable use, while supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging businesses operating outside the formal economy to join the formal financial system.
The CBE said the strategy adopts an integrated methodology for measuring financial inclusion from both the supply and demand sides, while strengthening the three core pillars of financial inclusion: access to financial services, their usage and service quality.
The strategy draws on findings from a nationwide financial services survey conducted in the first quarter of 2026, with technical support from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and implemented in cooperation with Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). The survey was designed to identify gaps in the effective use of financial services and to support evidence-based policymaking.
The central bank said the strategy aims to expand the use of financial products and services through digital innovation, promote sustainable finance to support the transition to a green economy, improve financial literacy through education and awareness programmes, and strengthen confidence in the financial sector by reinforcing consumer protection.
It also seeks to support the growth and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, encourage public-private partnerships, and further develop Egypt’s financial and technological infrastructure.
Financial inclusion has become a key pillar of Egypt’s economic reform agenda in recent years, with authorities expanding digital payments, electronic financial services, and access to formal banking services for individuals and businesses.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: Y.Yasser