CAIRO, EGYPT – Egypt and International Monetary Fund have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic policies to be supported by a 46-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility, IMF Mission Chief for Egypt Ivanna Vladkova Hollar said Thursday.
“The new Extended Fund Facility (EFF), with a requested access of about US$3 billion, aims to provide Egypt with balance of payments and budget support while catalyzing additional financing from the country’s international and regional partners to maintain economic stability,” Hollar said at a press conference held jointly with Prime Minister of Egypt Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian Minister of Finance Dr. Mohamed Maait and Hassan Abdullah, Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).
“The EFF will address macroeconomic imbalances and spillovers from the war in Ukraine, protect livelihoods and push forward deep structural and governance reforms to promote private sector-led growth and job creation,” she said.
“The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, which is expected to discuss the authorities’ request in December,” she added.
Hollar made this statement following the conclusion of the meetings that an IMF team, which she led, held in Washington DC and Cairo from October 4-27, 2022 to finalize discussions on IMF support for Egypt and the authorities’ comprehensive economic reform program.
She said that the rapidly changing global environment and spillovers related to the Ukraine crisis are posing significant challenges for countries around the world, including Egypt.
She added, “The IMF team welcomes the authorities’ recent actions to expand targeted social protection, implement a durable flexible exchange rate regime, and phase out the mandatory use of letters of credits for import finance.”
Hollar said, “The IMF team welcomes the authorities steadfast commitment to tackle needed macroeconomic adjustments and carry out an ambitious structural reform agenda amid a challenging global backdrop.”
She said, “The government’s fiscal policy under the EFF will be anchored to the reduction of general government debt and gross financing needs.”
“Continued fiscal consolidation will be supported by the implementation of the government’s Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) that aims to improve the efficiency and progressivity of the tax system.”
Hollar said, “Social protection will continue to be strengthened including through the temporary extension of the emergency support to ration cardholders and measures to protect the purchasing power of vulnerable wage earners and pensioners.”
She said, “Broad fiscal structural reforms will also aim to further improve the budget composition, strengthen governance, accountability, transparency and support climate mitigation goals.”
Hollar said, “The CBE’s move to a flexible exchange rate regime is a significant and welcome step to unwind external imbalances, boost Egypt’s competitiveness, and attract foreign direct investment. The commitment to durable exchange rate flexibility going forward will be a cornerstone policy for rebuilding and safeguarding Egypt’s external resilience over the long term.”
She said, “The EFF will support the CBE’s efforts to improve the functioning of the foreign exchange market, increase foreign reserves, and further improve monetary policy transmission. Monetary policy, which will be firmly rooted in the CBE’s price stability mandate, will aim to gradually reduce inflation to within the CBE’s inflation target.”
She added, “The EFF also aims to unlock Egypt’s enormous growth potential through broadening and deepening structural and governance reforms. These reform measures will be critical to address long-standing constraints to Egypt’s higher, more sustainable and more inclusive growth.”
Hollar said, “Egypt’s international and regional partners will play a critical role in facilitating the implementation of the authorities’ policies and reforms. Additional financing of about $5 billion is expected from multilateral and regional partners for FY2022/23, which will help strengthen Egypt’s external position.”
She said, “The Egyptian government has also requested financing under the newly created Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) aimed at providing affordable, long-term financing to help build resilience, including against climate change. Discussions on access under this facility, which could unlock up to an additional $1 billion for Egypt, will take place in the coming months.”
Hollar said, “We look forward to continuing our engagement in support of Egypt and its people.”