Egypt

Given Egypt’s structural fiscal deficit, and the time required to carry out the necessary reforms to resolve it (see analysis), the nation has been compelled to seek external assistance in order to meet its budgetary commitments. A long-term financing arrangement offered by the IMF in the wake of the 2011 revolution has been the subject of heated political debate over...

Speaking to local press in April 2014, former petroleum minister Osama Kamal summed up the government’s dilemma regarding subsidy reform, “There is no nice time to cut subsidies, but the government has to.” Successive governments have learnt the hard way the costs associated with tampering with Egypt’s unwieldy subsidy system. Anwar Sadat’s attempts in 1977 to reduce...

With elections over, Egypt’s economy is showing signs of an incipient recovery. After three years of stagnation the IMF anticipates GDP growth will reach 3.5% by 2015, although much of this may be making up for lost time. The new government has outlined an ambitious vision for the future development of the country, and taken the first steps towards solving a structural...

Although estimates vary, sources such as the OECD and Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Ministry of Investment’s promotion agency, assert that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for between 80% and 90% of total businesses, and between 75% and 80% of employment. However, the development of SMEs has been hindered by...

Prior to the 2011 revolution, Egypt was making steady progress in reducing persistent fiscal deficits, thanks to sustained efforts by reformist governments. One of the most enduring legacies of that period is a much-improved tax system, which replaced a bloated and inefficient process with a more streamlined and wider-based structure. Simplified tax procedures and lower...

Two years of political upheaval have increased tensions over the country’s financial health and left the economy in an uncertain situation. After tourists and many foreign investors departed following the 2011 revolution, foreign currency reserves declined. Egypt’s average monthly current account deficit stands at between $400m and $500m. With over $20bn spent since the...