The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB), signed its 2026 Annual Program for the Arab Republic of Egypt, valued at US$1.5 billion, reaffirming its long-standing partnership with the Government of Egypt and its commitment to supporting the country’s economic development priorities.
The Program falls under the five-year US$6 billion Framework Agreement between ITFC and Egypt and is designed to support strategic sectors, including energy, food commodities, private sector development, SMEs, and export capacity building.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of senior Egyptian Government officials, including H.E. Mr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development (Governor of IsDB Group), H.E. Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, H.E. Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and H.E. Dr. Sharif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trading. The Program was signed by Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al-Aama, CEO of ITFC; Mr. Mostafa Ismail Abdel Karim, Vice Chairman of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC); and Ms. Amal Tantawy, Deputy Executive President for Financial and Economic Affairs at the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).
Under the 2026 Annual Program, ITFC will provide trade finance solutions to support the procurement of strategic commodities for EGPC and GASC. The Program will also include extending lines of financing through local Egyptian banks to support the private sector, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Beyond financing, the Program includes integrated trade solutions, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives developed in coordination with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. It will also support digital trade advancement through a dedicated workshop in Egypt, in line with national efforts to modernize trade systems and enhance competitiveness.
The Program further includes trade development initiatives under the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program, including the design and launch of a country-specific program for Egypt for 2026–2027, as well as projects under the second phase of the Aid for Trade Initiative for Arab States (AfTIAS 2.0).
During the ceremony, ITFC also announced the launch of the second phase of the “Step Toward Export” training program in cooperation with the Foreign Trade Training Center (FTTC). Building on the success of the first phase, which benefited 400 SMEs, the new phase aims to train 600 exporters, entrepreneurs, and SME owners over two years. It will also enable 100 participants to obtain an internationally accredited diploma in International Trade, issued jointly by FTTC and the Forum for International Trade Training in Canada.
Eng. Adeeb Y. Al-Aama, CEO of ITFC, expressed appreciation for the continued support extended by the Government of Egypt to ITFC and commended Egypt’s ongoing economic reform efforts. He reaffirmed ITFC’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s national development priorities, noting that total ITFC approvals for Egypt since 2008 have exceeded US$24.8 billion, directed primarily toward energy, food security, and private sector support.
“Egypt remains one of ITFC’s key strategic partners. Through this Annual Work Program, we continue to provide tailored trade finance and trade development solutions that support critical sectors, strengthen private sector participation, and contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” Eng. Al-Aama said.
