Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund is scheduled to meet on February 25 to consider the latest review of Egypt’s economic reform program, a decision that could unlock a $2.3 billion disbursement for Cairo.
The meeting forms part of Egypt’s ongoing arrangement with the IMF, under which the country has committed to a series of fiscal, monetary and structural reforms aimed at stabilizing its economy, strengthening foreign currency reserves and restoring investor confidence.
If approved, the tranche would provide critical balance-of-payments support at a time when Egypt continues to navigate external pressures, including high global interest rates, volatile commodity prices and regional geopolitical tensions that have weighed on tourism revenues and Suez Canal receipts.
Egypt has undertaken a range of policy measures under the IMF-backed program, including exchange rate flexibility, fiscal consolidation efforts and steps to expand the role of the private sector. The government has also moved to accelerate state asset sales and enhance social protection programs to cushion vulnerable groups from inflationary impacts.
The IMF board’s review will assess Egypt’s compliance with agreed reform benchmarks and macroeconomic targets. Positive approval would signal continued international backing for the reform agenda and could help catalyze additional financing from multilateral institutions and bilateral partners.
The upcoming decision is being closely watched by investors and credit markets, as it will provide an updated assessment of Egypt’s reform progress and macroeconomic outlook amid ongoing regional uncertainty.
