Egypt showcases investment reforms in talks with IMF delegation

Egypt’s Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib met with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation on Monday to highlight the government’s efforts to improve the investment climate and advance ongoing economic reforms.

The IMF team included Alex Segura-Ubiergo, the Fund’s Senior Resident Representative, and Mouchera Karara, Senior Economist. Discussions covered Egypt’s financial, institutional and trade reform agenda as well as activities of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, according to a ministry statement.

El-Khatib said Egypt’s reform strategy is built on “clear and targeted policies” to spur growth, focusing on monetary and fiscal reforms, private sector participation, and boosting trade competitiveness. He stressed that trade and investment “are two sides of the same coin” and key to reducing the trade deficit and positioning Egypt as a regional export hub.

He pointed to Egypt’s first-ever national trade policy as a strategic framework to expand export capacity, integrate into global value chains, and diversify markets. The minister also underscored digital transformation as central to easing investment procedures, citing the launch of a unified licensing platform covering 389 permits from 41 agencies and a digital portal for economic entities.

On fiscal reforms, El-Khatib said the government is introducing tax and non-tax measures to ease burdens on investors and ensure greater transparency through digital platforms linking state institutions.

IMF officials welcomed the government’s reform steps, saying the policies were helping to restore investor confidence and improve the business environment through digital transformation and stronger trade–investment links.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English