Egypt Targets 7-8% Sustainable Annual Growth

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is seen shrouded in fog at the Saladin Citadel fortification in Cairo, Egypt, 12 September 2023. (EPA)
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is seen shrouded in fog at the Saladin Citadel fortification in Cairo, Egypt, 12 September 2023. (EPA)
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Egypt Targets 7-8% Sustainable Annual Growth

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is seen shrouded in fog at the Saladin Citadel fortification in Cairo, Egypt, 12 September 2023. (EPA)
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is seen shrouded in fog at the Saladin Citadel fortification in Cairo, Egypt, 12 September 2023. (EPA)

Egypt’s Planning Minister Dr. Hala El-Saied said Egypt is targeting sustainable annual growth ranging between 7 to 8 percent.

Speaking at the "Story of a Homeland” conference that was inaugurated by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, she added that despite diverse sources the growth remains unsustainable.

The minister remarked that Egypt aims to boost private sector investments from 36 percent to 65 percent of the overall investments by 2030.

The government is seeking to increase exports to $100 billion during the next five years to attract private investments worth $40 billion by 2060, and to proceed with its plans to boost the private sector's role in the economy.

Speaking at the same event, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said Egypt would manage to produce all its petroleum products next year.

He added that crude oil will continue to be imported but will be refined in the country.

The PM said that the project to double the Suez Canal has replaced the idea of alternative routes.

Egypt plans to expand the length of the canal from 72 kilometers to 82 kilometers.

The canal is a prime source of foreign currency to Egypt.

Sisi had previously stated that the revenue generated from the Suez Canal is anticipated to reach $10.5 billion by the end of the year.

The annual revenues of the canal reached $9.4 billion during the 2022/2023 fiscal year, announced Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chief Osama Rabie in July.

During the G20 summit hosted by India last month, a memorandum of understanding was signed to set up the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The IMEC project envisages laying down, alongside the railway line, cables for electricity and digital connectivity, as well as pipelines for clean/green hydrogen export.

Madbouli added that Egypt aims to increase the number of tourists from 15 million annually to 30 million in the next five years.



Gold Set for Brightest Year Since 2010 on Rate Cuts, Safe-haven Demand

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
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Gold Set for Brightest Year Since 2010 on Rate Cuts, Safe-haven Demand

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO

Gold prices were set to end a record-breaking year on a positive note on Tuesday as robust central bank buying, geopolitical uncertainties and monetary policy easing fuelled the safe-haven metal's strongest annual performance since 2010.

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,607.72 per ounce as of 1315 GMT, while US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,620.40.

As one of the best-performing assets of 2024, bullion has gained more than 26% year-to-date, the biggest annual jump since 2010, and last scaled a record high of $2,790.15 on Oct. 31 after a series of record-breaking rallies throughout the year.

"Rising geopolitical risks, demand from central banks, easing of monetary policy by central banks globally, and the resumption of inflows into gold-linked Exchange-Traded Commodities (ETC) were the primary drivers of gold's rally in 2024," said Aneeka Gupta, director of macroeconomic research at WisdomTree, Reuters reported.

The metal is likely to remain supported in 2025 despite some headwinds from a stronger US dollar and a slower pace of easing by the Federal Reserve, Gupta added.

The US Fed delivered a third consecutive interest rate cut this month but flagged fewer rate cuts for 2025.

Donald Trump's incoming administration was also poised to significantly impact global economic policies, encompassing tariffs, deregulation, and tax amendments.

"Bullion bulls may enjoy another stellar year ahead if global geopolitical tensions are ramped up under Trump 2.0, potentially pushing investors towards this time-tested safe haven," said Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan.

Bullion is often regarded as a hedge against geopolitical and economic risks and tends to perform well in low-interest-rate environments.

"We expect gold to rally to $3,000/t oz on structurally higher central bank demand and a cyclical and gradual boost to ETF holdings from Fed rate cuts," said Daan Struyven, commodities strategist at Goldman Sachs.

Spot silver fell 0.3% to $28.85 per ounce, palladium was steady at $901.03 and platinum was little changed at $904.23.

Silver is headed for its best year since 2020, having added nearly 22% so far. Platinum and palladium are set for annual losses and have dipped over 8% and 17%, respectively.