Monday 03/November/2025 – 06:00 PM
Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, officially opened the ceremony Banque Misr DjiboutiAs the first banking entity affiliated with the Bank in the East Africa region, in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr. Abdel Qader Kamel Mohamed, Ambassador Abdel Rahman Raafat, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Djibouti, Mr. Ahmed Othman, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, Hossam Abdel Wahab, Executive Vice President of the Bank of Egypt and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Misr Djibouti, and Mohamed Afifi, Executive Director of the Bank of Misr Djibouti, in addition to an elite group of senior banking and economic figures in the two countries.
Banque Misr opens a new branch in Djibouti to enhance its presence on the African continent
The opening of the Bank of Misr Djibouti comes within the framework of the expansion strategy of the Bank of Misr aimed at strengthening the Egyptian presence in the African continent, supporting the state’s direction towards deepening economic and trade relations with the countries of the continent, and consolidating the bank’s role as one of the most prominent national financial arms supporting regional development and promoting African integration. The Republic of Djibouti was chosen because of its strategic location that makes it a major link between Africa, Asia and the Arab world, as well as its political and economic stability, in addition to an advanced infrastructure in the fields of logistics, technology and communications, which qualifies it to be a growing financial and logistics center in East Africa.
Abdel-Rahman Raafat – Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Djibouti – stated that the official opening of the Bank of Misr Djibouti is considered one of the most important fruits of the historic visit made by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Republic of Djibouti in April 2025, which represented a qualitative turning point in the course of relations between the two brotherly countries. The joint statement issued by the visit included directing the Egyptian and Djibouti presidents to complete the official opening of the headquarters of the Bank of Misr Djibouti, confirming the importance of this step in strengthening economic and commercial relations and attracting… And encouraging investments, which represents a qualitative addition to the stable and promising Djibouti banking market. He expressed his happiness to see this generous guidance achieved on the ground, in a bright picture that expresses the spirit of close cooperation between Egypt and Djibouti.
He stressed that the Bank of Misr Djibouti will represent a new bridge for financial and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries, to enhance the movement of intra-trade, facilitate the flow of investments, and finance productive, service and development projects in Djibouti and support its growing economic openness. He also expressed his aspiration for the bank to play an active role in supporting the Djibouti banking sector through exchanging expertise, transferring successful experiences, and developing financing mechanisms and modern banking services, in a way that enhances financial inclusion and supports the policies of the Central Bank of Djibouti in achieving stability and growth, where This step comes within Egypt’s comprehensive vision to enhance its economic presence in Djibouti, based on its deep belief in the unity of destiny and common interest, and that regional integration is the best path to achieving sustainable development and prosperity for our peoples.
Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, stressed that the establishment of Banque Misr Djibouti embodies the bank’s national role as one of the pillars of the Egyptian economic system, noting that the presence in Djibouti is not limited to providing banking services only, but rather aims to enhance trade, investment and sustainable development in East Africa through an integrated system of financial and financing solutions. He added that the bank’s presence in Djibouti would enhance the growing trade relations between Djibouti and the countries of the region, especially Egypt, the Emirates, and Europe – where Banque Misr is present with its branches and subsidiary banks – and provides promising opportunities for banking and economic integration. The opening of Banque Misr Djibouti comes at a time when the Djibouti economy is witnessing rapid growth rates driven by investment in the ports, logistics and energy sectors, which allows the bank to provide innovative banking and financing solutions that support regional development and enhance its position as a leading financial institution with a strong presence. A growing African.
Ahmed Othman, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, also stated that the opening of the Bank of Egypt in Djibouti represents the beginning of a new phase in the economic relations between our two countries, and comes as a continuation of a long process of friendship and fruitful cooperation, built on mutual trust, solidarity, and a shared vision to achieve sustainable and comprehensive development.
The governor praised the farsightedness of the Egyptian leadership and the skill of the management of the Bank of Egypt, who recognized the strategic economic importance of Djibouti as a major gateway to the markets of East and Central Africa, and a platform linking Arab capital with African and Asian capital. He stressed that the Central Bank of Djibouti is continuing to develop a stable and innovative financial environment based on digital transformation, enhancing financial inclusion, and adhering to international standards, paving the way for a new phase of regional integration and sustainable growth. He also stressed that the presence of the Bank of Egypt in Djibouti will contribute to deepening the ties between… The Egyptian, Djiboutian and African markets, and opens new horizons for trade exchange and the transfer of expertise and technology, thus enhancing regional economic integration.
For his part, Hossam Abdel Wahab – Executive Vice President of Banque Misr and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Misr Djibouti, explained that the opening of “Bank Misr Djibouti” represents a strategic step towards consolidating banking and investment relations between Egypt and the countries of the African continent, stressing that the bank seeks, through this entity, to support and finance Egyptian and regional companies operating in Djibouti and facilitate their commercial and investment activities, in addition to building effective banking partnerships with financial institutions and local banks. He pointed out that this expansion comes as an extension of Banque Misr’s approach to having an active presence in promising markets to enhance financial and commercial communication between Egypt and its African brothers, in a way that contributes to achieving regional economic integration and supports sustainable development goals on the continent.
Banque Misr always seeks to enhance the excellence of its services, maintain its long-term success, and participate effectively in services that meet the needs of its customers, as the bank’s work values and strategies always reflect its commitment to supporting sustainable development and enhancing financial inclusion efforts, and its keenness to be present in the African continent comes within the framework of its permanent commitment to supporting the Egyptian economy and expanding the horizons of international and African cooperation.
