Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020, Egypt had one of the best-performing economies in the MENA region and, despite the disruptive effects of the pandemic, this trend looks set to continue. Egypt’s resilient economy can in part be attributed to a series of government-implemented structural reforms, backed by a $12bn IMF loan released in five tranches, the last of which was received i
The pandemic has created an urgent need for more patient capital in Africa. With governments across the continent facing budgetary constraints while recognising the importance of investment in essential infrastructure and services, private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) offer an attractive avenue for financial support. Covid-19 has also accelerated digitalisation in key African markets, which…
In addition to being one of the world's most resilient economies in 2020, Egypt benefits from a well-capitalised banking sector, which remains one of the most important pillars of the economy. While the Covid-19 pandemic posed a substantial external shock, the sector was well placed to respond in a coordinated and holistic manner. Liquidity remained high and the necessary measures were put in place…
While the coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on Egypt’s insurance sector, the continued rollout of universal health coverage, alongside targeted expansion in particular segments, could provide potential for future growth. The difficult economic environment caused by Covid-19 has led to a reduction in demand for insurance throughout the country, which had low penetration levels even…
As the only country in the MENA region forecast to grow in 2020, the underlying demand driving the construction sector is set to continue thanks to the country's strong demographic fundamentals and positive macroeconomic outlook. In tandem with this, the country's overall fiscal and monetary response in combination of the successful completion of broad-based IMF-backed economic reforms have been…
Click here to read our Egypt 2020 Economic Report and Investment Analysis online …
The onset of a Covid-19-induced global recession has affected both labour markets and financial flows around the world. At the confluence of these two are remittances, which have increasingly been among the top contributors to GDP in many emerging markets over recent decades. In April 2020 the World Bank predicted that remittances to low- and middle-income countries would see the sharpest decline…
The Egypt Vision 2030 strategy is more of a statement of broad economic intent than a precise roadmap. However, against the backdrop of the global Covid-19 pandemic and with government policy focused on short-term mitigation efforts, the document provides as a useful reminder of the nation’s long-term economic ambitions. Launched in 2016, the strategy aims to create a “competitive, balanced…
