Monday, 25 May 2026
Egyptian Minister meets IMF delegation to discuss economic reforms
Engineer Hassan El-Khatib, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, welcomed a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr. Alex Segura, the IMF’s Senior Resident Representative, and Ms. Moshira Karara, a senior economist at the fund. The meeting focused on reviewing key aspects of Egypt’s ongoing financial, institutional, and commercial reform programs, as well as the activities of the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The minister emphasized that Egypt’s current reform vision is built on well-planned and targeted policies aimed at achieving desired economic growth. This is being pursued through various monetary and fiscal reform plans, alongside efforts to enhance private sector participation and prioritize trade to boost the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy regionally and globally.
El-Khatib highlighted the government’s clear and effective trade policy, which seeks to encourage national investments and provide necessary support for exporters. He stressed the importance of linking trade with investment, describing them as two sides of the same coin. This approach aims to address the trade balance deficit and establish Egypt as a distinguished export hub by orienting the economy toward exports and increasing the value-added of Egyptian products.
For the first time, Egypt has formulated a national trade policy to serve as a strategic framework for domestic and international trade. The policy aims to promote trade openness, enhance export capacity, integrate into global value chains, expand market access, and diversify exports. These efforts contribute to creating a clear and stable business environment for local and foreign investors, supporting local manufacturing, and maximizing economic value.
The minister underscored the role of digital transformation as a key tool for improving Egypt’s investment climate. He reviewed the ministry’s achievements in this area, including the launch of a unified licensing platform that, in its first phase, includes 389 licenses from 41 government entities, with procedures completed in just 21 days. Additionally, the Economic Entities Platform was introduced as a unified digital interface for investors throughout all project stages.
Regarding financial reforms, the government is implementing carefully studied measures, particularly in tax and non-tax financial reforms. These aim to ease the financial burden on investors and achieve an effective tax rate, ensuring full transparency through digital platforms that connect government entities.
IMF representatives expressed optimism and appreciation for the Egyptian government’s financial, commercial, and structural reforms. They noted that these efforts, including digital transformation and the integration of trade and investment, enhance investor confidence and improve the business environment, reflecting Egypt’s clear reform vision and delivering positive, impactful results.