Egypt’s state ownership policy is homegrown, not IMF-driven: PM

Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said on Wednesday that the country’s updated state ownership policy was a domestically designed reform programme and not a requirement imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking at the launch of the second phase of Egypt’s State Ownership Policy Document, Madbouly said the framework reflected the government’s own vision for managing the economy through 2030.

“The IMF programme will be completed by the end of this year, while the second phase of the State Ownership Policy extends through 2030,” Madbouly said, arguing that the framework reflects Egypt’s own long-term economic vision rather than externally imposed conditions.

Egypt has been implementing reforms to increase private sector participation and reduce the state’s role in competitive sectors as part of a broader economic restructuring programme.

Madbouly said the policy does not prescribe a uniform approach across industries and that the state’s role would vary according to the nature of each sector.

He cited tourism as an example of an industry that should be led primarily by the private sector, while noting that the government could retain ownership stakes and partner with private investors in some assets.

“The goal is not for the state to exit entirely, but for its role not to be dominant,” he said.

The updated policy outlines Egypt’s economic strategy through 2030 and is intended to guide future asset sales, partnerships, and investment initiatives across a range of sectors.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English