Egypt’s NBE bank sold $550 million in two weeks to cover imports – chief

Egypt’s biggest lender, the state-owned National Bank of Egypt has provided around $550 million to cover import payments since the central bank devalued pound on November 3rd, its chief said Monday.

“We opened letters of credit worth $550 million to meet import payments in the last two weeks,” NBE chairman Hisham Okasha told Amwal Al Ghad.

Earlier, the country central bank decided on November 3rd to freely float the pound and raise key interest rates as part of a set of reforms aimed at alleviating a dollar shortage and stabilising the national flagging economy. CBE also said there will be no limits on foreign currency deposits or withdrawal for both individuals and firms, and no conditions will be imposed on the depositing of foreign currency.