The Information and Decision Support Center of the Egyptian Cabinet issued the first edition of its periodical bulletin, “The Future Through the Eyes of the World,” to monitor the transformations discussed by international think tanks and research institutions and analyze their potential effects on the economy and development sectors. The bulletin places artificial intelligence, clean energy, and regional trade at the forefront of the drivers that could reshape the global economy during the 2030s.
Three Drivers and Unequal Opportunities
According to the vision presented by the bulletin regarding the World Bank, global investments in clean energy reached approximately $2.2 trillion during 2025, surpassing investments in fossil fuels. The number of regional trade agreements also rose from more than 300 agreements in 2020 to approximately 400 agreements currently, covering nearly 60% of global trade, compared with approximately 40% in 1990.
However, benefiting from these transformations will remain linked to possessing the necessary infrastructure and digital capabilities. Developing economies account for less than one-quarter of global data center capacity, while the 24 poorest economies account for no more than 0.1% of it. These figures show that the expansion of artificial intelligence, clean energy, and trade does not automatically guarantee a reduction in the development gap.
A Global Economy More Exposed to Uncertainty
The bulletin also reviewed the results of a McKinsey survey conducted between May 27 and June 5, 2026. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said that the global economy had deteriorated during the preceding six months, the highest proportion since June 2022. Respondents linked this to geopolitical tensions, disruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, energy-price volatility, inflation, and supply-chain risks.
In parallel, the bulletin presented four scenarios for the sustainable development agenda after 2030, ranging from the absence of a new global agenda and the emergence of multiple regional agendas to extending the current agenda or agreeing on a new global agenda that places greater emphasis on basic needs and economic and social development.
Energy and Infrastructure at the Heart of the Transformation
Estimates by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicate a broad range for global nuclear capacity in 2050, between 347 and 1,324 gigawatts, depending on policies and investments. Under a scenario in which current trends continue, capacity could reach 619 gigawatts, compared with 883 gigawatts under a more ambitious scenario based on accelerating projects, expanding small reactors, and extending the operating lives of existing reactors.
The bulletin estimates that global electricity grids will require more than $22.5 trillion in investments through 2050. Europe also aims for sustainable aviation fuel to reach 70% of usage by that year, while nuclear capacity in the Asia-Pacific region could reach approximately 229 gigawatts by 2035, an increase of more than 70%.
What Does This Mean for Egypt?
The bulletin concludes that monitoring these trends is important for Egypt in the areas of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, energy security, industrial competitiveness, regional trade, infrastructure development, and climate adaptation. In practical terms, the issue is not about adopting a single technology, but about possessing an ecosystem that includes data centers, energy, skills, the ability to attract investments, and integration into production and trade networks.
This material remains a forward-looking assessment that brings together international findings and reports, rather than a certain forecast of the global economy’s trajectory. The ranges for nuclear growth, investment, and infrastructure presented in it also depend on future scenarios and policies, making their actual implementation contingent on countries’ decisions and the availability of financing and local capabilities.