The Presidency
Today, President El-Sisi participated via video conference in the high-level meeting in preparation for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held in Spain at the end of June 2025.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the high-level meeting aims to give political momentum for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, a major international event aimed at mobilizing funding and encouraging investment in projects that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, enhancing international cooperation in the field of financing for development, and bridging the growing development gap.
President El-Sisi delivered a speech, during which he reviewed the pillars of Egypt’s vision for enhancing international efforts to finance development.
President El-Sisi’s Speech at Meeting ahead of Int. Conference on Financing for Development
In the name of Allah the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Your Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
I would like to begin by thanking Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his kind invitation to participate in this important meeting. This meeting is part of efforts to mobilize political support and build the necessary momentum for the success of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
I would also like to thank my friend, the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sánchez, for his country’s hosting of this important international conference. I appreciate his wise leadership and his government’s diligent efforts to prepare for the conference, in cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is held at a critical international moment, amid mounting international challenges, particularly the escalation of geopolitical and security tensions, the increase in unilateral and protectionist measures, the decline in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, also the widening related financing gap related to them, and the growing repercussions of climate change.
This is in addition to the major changes taking place in the international trade landscape, which are adding tension to the global economy. This, in turn, impacts the economies of all countries, particularly developing countries, undermining their efforts to drive growth and achieve desired development.
In 2015, the international community agreed on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a comprehensive framework for the advancement of our peoples and the provision of a better life and future for them. However, the dangerous widening of the development and financing gap over the past years could make achieving these goals by 2030 unattainable unless effective steps are taken to address it.
Accordingly, we look forward to the ambitious and tangible outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, reflecting our collective will to take urgent action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Within this framework, Egypt looks forward to achieving progress in the following issues during the conference:
First:
Developing a roadmap to enhance developing countries’ access to concessional and low-cost financing. This necessitates addressing existing structural imbalances in the global financial system and fostering international cooperation with development partners.
In this context, we look forward to reaching consensus on effective measures to further advance the reform of the global financial architecture and international financial institutions. This is in addition to strengthening existing financing mechanisms; establishing innovative new mechanisms, such as debt swaps; developing integrated financing frameworks to stimulate private sector investment; and reinforce the interconnection between the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Second:
We underscore the critical need to elevate ambition for reforming the global debt architecture and to formulate concrete and actionable steps to contain the escalating challenge of sovereign debt in developing countries. Such measures should include the development of mechanisms for sustainable debt management in both low-income and middle-income countries, which collectively account for approximately two-thirds of the world’s impoverished population.
Egypt emphasizes that failure to achieve tangible outcomes in this regard could cause a new global debt crisis, severely destabilizing our economies and exacerbating the already widening development gap.
Third:
We emphasize the vital importance of providing necessary technical support and building the institutional and human capacities of developing nations. This includes technology transfer and the promotion of modern technological and digital tools, including Artificial Intelligence. Such efforts are vital to strengthen these countries’ endeavors to achieve sustainable development and leverage their national resources.
Your Excellencies,
The success of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development hinges on the level of ambition reflected in its outcome document. This document must contain serious and well-considered measures that require political will and commitment to the principles of solidarity and multilateral international action in order to agree on outstanding issues in an objective and equitable manner.
This approach shall provide a crucial impetus to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfill our peoples’ aspirations for a dignified life, prosperity, and a more flourishing future.
Thank you
May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you
