World Bank’s IFC to Help Egypt Monetize State Assets

Vehicles drive on a road next to the construction site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD), which is being built by China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
Vehicles drive on a road next to the construction site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD), which is being built by China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
TT

World Bank’s IFC to Help Egypt Monetize State Assets

Vehicles drive on a road next to the construction site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD), which is being built by China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
Vehicles drive on a road next to the construction site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD), which is being built by China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) said on Sunday it would act as the strategic advisor for Egypt's plans to boost the role of the private sector in the economy.

The IFC said it would advise on the government's "asset monetization program, which will focus on harnessing private capital and know-how to manage state-owned assets".

That will include structuring and preparing assets for sale, the IFC said in a statement.

Last year Egypt's government announced a state ownership policy designed to identify areas of the economy in which the private sector can play a bigger role.

Egypt has been struggling to manage an acute foreign currency shortage, attract new investment and contain a rising debt burden.

"We will have a five-year partnership with the World Bank's IFC to guarantee the governorship of the program in the long term," Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said on Sunday in a televized conference with IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop.



S&P Downgrades Israel’s Long-Term Ratings to 'A' amid Hezbollah Conflict

People take cover by the side of a road as a siren sound, after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
People take cover by the side of a road as a siren sound, after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

S&P Downgrades Israel’s Long-Term Ratings to 'A' amid Hezbollah Conflict

People take cover by the side of a road as a siren sound, after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
People take cover by the side of a road as a siren sound, after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)

S&P Global downgraded Israel's long-term ratings to "A" from "A+" on Tuesday, citing risks to the country's economy and public finances from the escalating conflict with Iran-backed armed movement Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The rating agency highlighted concerns over potential security threats, including retaliatory rocket attacks against Israel, which could worsen the economic impact.

Peer Moody's cut the country's credit rating two notches to "Baa1" last week and warned of a drop to "junk" if the current heightened tensions with Hezbollah turned into a full-scale conflict.

"We now consider that military activity in Gaza and an upsurge in fighting across Israel's northern border - including a ground incursion into Lebanon - could persist into 2025, with risks of retaliation against Israel," S&P said.

S&P maintained Israel's outlook at "negative".