Arab Finance: Egypt has settled EGP 401.9 billion in debts and financial entanglements involving the National Investment Bank (NIB), resolving more than 95% of the bank’s non-performing assets since February 2026, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom said.

Speaking during a plenary session of the Senate, Rostom noted that the settlements involve the General Authority for Reconstruction Projects and Agricultural Development (GARPAD), the Egyptian Agricultural Authority, subsidiaries of the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW), the National Media Authority (Maspero), the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), and the Industrial and Mining Projects Authority (IMPA).

The settlements have reinforced the NIB’s financial position while easing financial pressures on debtor entities, enabling them to advance their respective development plans, the minister added. They also transferred ownership of several assets and plots of land to the NIB.

The lender is exploring various private-sector partnership mechanisms to maximize the use of these assets and generate the highest possible investment and development returns, the minister pointed out. The restructuring process also involves integrating the databases of the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance, and the NIB.

Both the planning ministry and the bank are currently channelling efforts toward supporting entrepreneurship and developing Egypt’s startup ecosystem through their respective operational plans.

Following the concluding recommendations of Egypt Forum 2026, the ministry has been tasked with establishing at least five Egyptian unicorns, privately held companies valued at more than $1 billion, over the next five years.

Rostom confirmed that the ministry has begun preparations and consultations to implement the initiative. Further details are expected by mid-December, alongside the launch of the National Economic Transformation Program.