IMF approves $12 billion loan for Egypt in economic crisis outreach

PanARMENIAN.Net - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a three-year $12bn (€11bn) loan for Egypt to help the country out of its deep economic crisis, BBC News reports.

Egypt will receive $2.75bn immediately, with the rest subject to its economic performance and further reforms.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the bailout would "address longstanding challenges".

Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is facing high unemployment and a budget deficit of 12% of GDP.

The country has struggled to attract foreign investment since the political turmoil in 2011 and the so-called Arab Spring, which saw former president Hosni Mubarak overthrown.

Tourism - traditionally a leading source of income for Egypt - has declined sharply over the past five years.

Last week Egypt floated its currency in a move that reduced its value by almost 50% against the dollar in an attempt to strengthen confidence in the economy.

The government also increased interest rates by three percentage points to 14.75%, and raised the price of basic commodities and fuel.

The moves led to widespread criticism of the president and a drop in his popularity. A big security operation was put in place in Cairo to pre-empt mass demonstrations that had been expected on Friday, November 11.

Lagarde said the latest "home-grown economic plan" was intended to tackle the country's large budget deficit, low growth and high unemployment rate.

She said that further reforms, such as reductions in fuel subsidies and legislation to reduce Egypt's public sector wage bill, were necessary for the country to move forward.

"Resolute implementation of the policy package is essential to restore investor confidence," Lagarde said.

In 2013, Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, was ousted by the military, led by Gen Sisi, after only one year in power.

Sisi was later elected president in May 2014.