The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) has been named winner of the “Egypt’s Best Sustainable Transaction Banking Deal 2025” award by Euromoney, in recognition of its pioneering role in financing environmentally and socially impactful sustainable projects. The accolade marks a new milestone in the bank’s expanding record of leadership in sustainable finance.
The prestigious award follows intense competition with major global and regional banks operating in the Egyptian market. NBE stood out for its innovative and unique financing structure supporting the sustainable redevelopment and rehabilitation of the historic Giza Zoo and Orman Garden—two of Egypt’s oldest and most significant cultural and natural landmarks.
The project aligns with NBE’s broader vision to advance sustainable development while preserving Egypt’s environmental and civilizational identity.
The initiative is widely regarded as a regional benchmark model for sustainable transaction banking.
Commenting on the award, Mohamed El-Etreby, Chief Executive Officer of NBE, stated that the recognition underscores the bank’s commitment to embedding sustainability principles into its institutional strategy—not merely as a development pillar, but as the foundation for the future of banking in Egypt.
He emphasized that sustainable finance at NBE is not a temporary initiative, but a comprehensive vision that promotes responsible economic growth, environmental preservation, and social advancement.
Soha El-Turky, Deputy CEO of NBE, described the achievement as the culmination of sustained efforts led by specialized teams across sustainable finance, sustainability strategy, and financial institutions relations.
She revealed that NBE has formally adopted a Sustainable Finance Policy in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Egypt and has begun full implementation. The bank has also launched specialized training programs for corporate relationship managers across large, medium, and small enterprise sectors to strengthen awareness of sustainability principles and integrate environmental and social considerations throughout all financing stages—consistent with global best practices.
El-Turky added that the international recognition reflects strong confidence from global institutions in NBE’s ability to deliver innovative financial solutions that support Egypt’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and keep pace with leading green banking standards worldwide.
She further noted that the award serves as a strong incentive for expanding the bank’s green finance portfolio. NBE is currently financing new projects in renewable energy, water management, and sustainable infrastructure. The bank seeks to embed sustainability across the entire financing lifecycle—from project appraisal to monitoring long-term environmental and social impact—affirming that true success delivers lasting benefits to society, the economy, and the environment alike.
Sherif Riad, Executive Head of Large Corporates and Syndicated Loans at NBE, highlighted that close cross-departmental collaboration was a key success factor. He described the award as international testimony to the efficiency and integration of the bank’s teams in executing transactions aligned with global ESG governance standards.
Riad noted that Euromoney is one of the world’s most reputable financial institutions, granting its awards based on comprehensive evaluations of performance, innovation, and societal impact.
He added that this recognition forms part of a broader series of international and regional sustainable finance awards secured by NBE in 2025—exceeding ten prestigious accolades from global institutions—demonstrating the bank’s firm commitment to advancing Egypt’s sustainable development agenda, strengthening social inclusion, and protecting the environment through impactful financing solutions.
As of the end of Q2 2025, NBE’s sustainable finance portfolio reached approximately EGP 428 billion, comprising both social and environmental financing across diverse sectors. The figure underscores the bank’s expanding role in supporting Egypt’s green economy transition and inclusive development strategy.
