Egypt's Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, announced an expanded partnership with the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) to reinforce economic and fiscal policymaking, streamline procedures, enhance public services, and strengthen engagement with citizens and investors. A cooperation protocol was signed between the two entities to establish a structured framework for collaboration. The agreement seeks to leverage the center's research capabilities to assess the impact of government initiatives.
Egypt's Ministry of Finance signed a cooperation protocol with the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) on February 25, 2026, to deepen their partnership. Ahmed Kouchouk, the Minister of Finance, stated that the upcoming phase will feature a diversified and expanded collaboration focused on reinforcing economic and fiscal policymaking, streamlining procedures, enhancing public services, and strengthening engagement with citizens and investors.
Kouchouk explained that the ministry plans to utilize the center's strong research and analytical capabilities to evaluate and measure the real-world impact of its initiatives, ensuring ongoing improvements in tax, customs, and real estate services. The minister attended the signing ceremony, where the protocol was signed by Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of IDSC, and Ahmed Abdel Razek, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance.
Attendees included Yasser Sobhy, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Policies; Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority; Waleed Abdallah, Head of the State Budget Sector; and from IDSC, Ahmed Helmy, Head of the Central Administration for Information; Hazem Gamal, Head of the Central Administration for Financial and Administrative Affairs; and Khadija Arafa, Head of the Central Administration for Community Engagement.
Kouchouk emphasized the ministry's commitment to employing advanced technological tools to develop and streamline digital services for citizens and the business community. He highlighted that bolstering community engagement through clear communication, effective follow-up mechanisms, and continuous evaluation is a priority. The cooperation with IDSC is grounded in a unified, forward-looking vision to deliver tangible positive impacts on the economic and fiscal landscape and stimulate investment.
El-Gohary affirmed that deploying the center's research and technological capabilities to support decision-makers is a core priority. He noted that IDSC employs around 400 specialized researchers in economics, political science, and information technology, regularly providing up-to-date data, analysis, and evidence-based insights to decision-makers across sectors. He added that the qualitative development of IDSC's capabilities represents a significant step in supporting state institutions and advancing the government's reform agenda.
El-Gohary further praised the Minister of Finance's distinctive vision for integration and cooperation, which enables the ministry to fully benefit from the center's research and technological potential, as well as its capacity for rapid communication with citizens via professional official digital and social media platforms comparable to those in advanced capitals and across the Arab region and Africa. He concluded that IDSC aims to expand similar cooperation protocols with other ministries and state entities in the coming period, reinforcing its role as a center of excellence and comprehensive service provider to the government.