Egypt's Central Bank to launch 2026-2030 financial inclusion strategy

Sherif Lokman, Deputy Governor for Financial Inclusion, stated that the new strategy will build on previous successes in financial access and business growth. He emphasized that SME and microenterprise financing remains a key focus due to its role in economic growth, employment, and productivity. Total SME lending in the banking sector has reached approximately LE 630 billion, with about LE 315 billion linked to companies that have grown into larger enterprises.

Bank financing for SMEs and microenterprises saw a 390 percent increase between December 2015 and December 2025. Over the last five years, SME lending grew by 71 percent, microenterprise financing by 112 percent, small enterprises by 85 percent, and medium enterprises by 36 percent. Microfinance also experienced significant growth, reaching around LE 107 billion by the end of 2025, up from about LE 6 billion several years prior, with the number of beneficiaries rising to approximately 5 million clients.

Egypt's financial inclusion rate has increased to 77.6 percent of citizens aged 15 and above, totaling about 55 million people out of 70.5 million, a substantial rise from fewer than 15 million in 2015.