Mr. Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, officially inaugurated "Banque Misr Djibouti" as the bank's first banking entity in the East Africa region. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mr. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti; His Excellency Ambassador Abdelrahman Raafat, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Djibouti; Mr. Ahmed Osman, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti; Mr. Hossam Abdel Wahab, Vice CEO of Banque Misr and Chairman of Banque Misr Djibouti; and Mr. Mohamed Afifi, CEO of Banque Misr Djibouti; along with a group of senior banking and economic figures from both countries.

The opening of Banque Misr Djibouti comes within the framework of Banque Misr's expansion strategy aimed at strengthening the Egyptian presence in the African continent, supporting the state’s direction toward deepening economic and trade relations with continental countries, and consolidating the bank's role as one of the most prominent national financial arms supporting regional development and enhancing African integration. The Republic of Djibouti was chosen for its strategic location, which makes it a major link between Africa, Asia, and the Arab world, as well as its political and economic stability and advanced infrastructure in the fields of logistics, technology, and communications, qualifying it to be a growing financial and logistical hub in East Africa.

His Excellency Ambassador Abdelrahman Raafat, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Djibouti, stated that the official inauguration of Banque Misr Djibouti is considered one of the most important fruits of the historic visit made by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Republic of Djibouti in April 2025. This visit represented a qualitative turning point in the path of relations between the two brotherly countries, as the joint statement issued following the visit included directives from the Egyptian and Djiboutian presidents to complete the official opening of the Banque Misr Djibouti headquarters, confirming the importance of this step in strengthening economic and trade relations and attracting and encouraging investments. This represents a qualitative addition to the stable and promising Djiboutian banking market. He expressed his happiness to see this gracious directive realized on the ground in a bright image that reflects the spirit of close cooperation between Egypt and Djibouti.

The Ambassador stressed that Banque Misr Djibouti will represent a new bridge for financial and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries to enhance bilateral trade movement, facilitate the flow of investments, and finance productive, service, and developmental projects in Djibouti, supporting its growing economic openness. He also expressed his aspiration for the bank to play an active role in supporting the Djiboutian banking sector by exchanging expertise, transferring successful experiences, and developing modern financing mechanisms and banking services, which enhances financial inclusion and supports the policies of the Central Bank of Djibouti in achieving stability and growth. This step comes within Egypt's comprehensive vision to strengthen its economic presence in Djibouti, based on its deep belief in the unity of destiny and common interest, and that regional integration is the optimal path to achieving sustainable development and prosperity for our peoples.

Mr. Hisham Okasha, CEO of Banque Misr, confirmed that the establishment of Banque Misr Djibouti embodies the national role of the bank as one of the pillars of the Egyptian economic system. He pointed out that the presence in Djibouti is not limited to providing banking services but 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 strengthen the growing trade relations between Djibouti and the countries of the region—especially Egypt, the UAE, and Europe, where Banque Misr is present through its branches and subsidiary banks—providing promising opportunities for banking and economic integration. The opening of Banque Misr Djibouti comes at a time when the Djiboutian economy is witnessing accelerated 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 growing African presence.

Mr. Ahmed Osman, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, stated that the opening of Banque Misr in Djibouti represents the beginning of a new phase in economic relations between our two countries and comes as a continuation of a long journey of friendship and fruitful cooperation based on mutual trust, solidarity, and a shared vision to achieve sustainable and comprehensive development. The Governor praised the foresight of the Egyptian leadership and the wisdom of Banque Misr's management, who recognized the economic and strategic importance of Djibouti as a major gateway to the markets of East and Central Africa and a platform connecting Arab capital with African and Asian capital. He stressed that the Central Bank of Djibouti is moving forward in developing a stable and innovative financial environment based on digital transformation, enhancing financial inclusion, and commitment to international standards, paving the way for a new phase of regional integration and sustainable growth. He also emphasized that the presence of Banque Misr in Djibouti will contribute to deepening the links between the Egyptian, Djiboutian, and African markets and open new horizons for trade exchange and the transfer of expertise and technology, thereby enhancing regional economic integration.

For his part, Mr. Hossam Abdel Wahab, Vice CEO of Banque Misr and Chairman of Banque Misr Djibouti, explained that the opening of "Banque Misr Djibouti" represents a strategic step toward consolidating banking and investment relations between Egypt and the countries of the African continent. He stressed that the bank seeks through this entity to support and finance Egyptian and regional companies operating in Djibouti, facilitate their trade and investment activities, and build effective banking partnerships with local financial institutions and banks. He pointed out that this expansion is 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, contributing to achieving regional economic integration and supporting sustainable development goals in 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. The bank's values and work strategies always reflect its commitment to supporting sustainable development and enhancing financial inclusion efforts. 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.