Economy

Global trade faces protectionist headwinds that are dampening the outlook for growth in the coming years. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), trade volume grew by 4.7% in 2017 and is expected to have moderated slightly to 4.4% in 2018 and dip to 4% in 2019. Although this means growth will fall below the 4.8% average seen since...

Fiscal policy plays a vital role in creating and nurturing sustainable and inclusive growth. This is because we need fiscal space for spending on health, education, social protection and public investment, which are all key priorities in the Arab world. Unfortunately, this region has yet to fully recover from the global financial crisis and...

The IMF, in a report issued in November 2018, forecast GDP would expand by approximately 5.3% in FY 2018/19, increasing over the 4.2% expansion seen a year earlier and marking the highest rate of annual growth since 2008. This was supported by figures released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), which put year-on-year GDP growth at around 5.3...

Business leaders in Egypt remain bullish about the country’s economic prospects, with 95% of those interviewed in the OBG Business Barometer: Egypt CEO survey indicating that they have positive or very positive expectations of local business conditions in the coming 12 months. Confidence can be partly attributed to the sustained reform momentum,...

Despite the instability that has rocked the MENA region in recent years, the Egyptian government has pursued a consistent diplomatic programme to strengthen ties with major Gulf players and improve border security. While these policies have been successful, the challenges that still face Egypt and the region will take time to disappear....