Launched at the St. Regis Hotel in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital on Monday, the forum will run through Saturday, bringing together discussions on policies to boost productivity, expand private-sector participation, and strengthen the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving investment and creating jobs.
Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed Adel said the government was presenting an economic reform programme extending through 2030, with a focus on increasing productivity across key industrial and manufacturing sectors, attracting private investment, and supporting entrepreneurship and SMEs.
The programme also aims to create greater fiscal space, enabling stronger economic returns to support increased public spending on essential services.
Debt, Inflation and Government Spending in Focus
The forum’s economic agenda will address public concerns over inflation, rising prices, national debt, and government spending on infrastructure, as policymakers assess the impact of economic decisions on growth and public finances.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government was addressing questions related to debt levels, infrastructure investment, and strategic economic choices, alongside inflation and rising domestic prices amid escalating regional tensions.
The government has drawn on around 16,000 proposals submitted by the public, as well as consultations with private-sector representatives, academics, and investors, to help shape and refine its economic priorities.
Turning Economic Growth into Better Living Standards
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has emphasised that economic progress must translate into improved living standards, highlighting the importance of financial stability in sustaining development and ensuring adequate household incomes amid continuing economic pressures.
The forum’s focus on productivity, investment, and fiscal management reflects the government’s stated commitment to strengthening the foundations of economic growth while ensuring that its benefits reach households and support access to essential services.
IMF Programme and the Outlook for Economic Reform
Egypt is expected to conclude its $8 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by mid-December this year. The forum comes amid growing questions over whether ongoing reforms can generate higher private-sector investment, improve productivity, and deliver more sustainable economic growth beyond the programme.
The IMF has called for faster progress in reducing the state’s economic footprint, advancing the government’s divestment programme, and improving the business environment to encourage private-sector-led growth.
Managing public debt and financing requirements while creating room for greater spending on essential services will remain central to Egypt’s economic outlook, particularly as inflation and rising living costs continue to place pressure on households.
