H.E. Dr. Ahmed Rostom is the Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt, Egypt’s Governor to the Islamic Development Bank Group, and Chairman of the National Investment Bank, the Institute of National Planning, and the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

He brings more than 25 years of distinguished experience in the design and implementation of structural reforms and large-scale development programmes across emerging economies. His career combines extensive international experience at the World Bank Group with senior government leadership in economic policy design, reform implementation, and national development strategy in Egypt.

At the World Bank Group, Dr. Rostom served as a Senior Financial Sector Specialist, leading multidisciplinary teams across East Africa and South Asia. He managed complex financing portfolios and development operations valued at several billion US dollars, contributing to long-term economic development outcomes across multiple regions.

His key achievements include leading the development and financing of major infrastructure projects across the COMESA region, mobilising approximately USD 400 million in investments; establishing the first Green Investment Fund and Renewable Energy Fund (M300) in East Africa with combined investments exceeding USD 500 million; and designing innovative financing mechanisms, including green finance, Islamic finance, and SME support frameworks to strengthen enterprise resilience and growth.

In government, he served as Assistant Minister of Investment of Egypt from 2007 to 2009 and played a central role in implementing Egypt’s Financial Sector Reform Programme. He contributed to the establishment of the Financial Regulatory Authority of Egypt, strengthening national financial oversight. He also led international cooperation and communications at the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of the Central Bank of Egypt, and worked with the World Bank on state-ownership reform and economic empowerment frameworks.

He holds a PhD in Economics from The George Washington University, a Master’s degree from the University of York, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Cairo University. He is the recipient of 11 international excellence awards from the World Bank Group in recognition of his contributions to high-impact, sustainable development programmes.