Egypt Studying Sustainable Development Bonds

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
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Egypt Studying Sustainable Development Bonds

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Reuters

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said that Egypt is considering issuing bonds linked to sustainable development.

The country is also aiming to expand its issuance of green bonds, he said, having sold $750 million in five-year green bonds in its first such sale in September.

Maait noted that there are plans to expand the issuance of green bonds to provide sustainable financing for environmentally friendly projects in the areas of housing, clean transportation, renewable energy, reducing pollution, adapting to climate change, raising energy efficiency, and the sustainable management of water and sanitation.

He added that the first offering of green bonds, worth $750 milion, has allowed Egypt to play a leading role in green development, and become a leader in the clean and environmentally friendly investment community in the region.

The minister said that the expansion of green projects will contribute to the country achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, whilst taking into account the environment.

It would help reduce pollution, improve air quality by reducing harmful carbon emissions, rationalize fuel consumption, and is consistent with efforts to maximize local components in the national industry, as well as raise growth rates, he added.

The minister said that the government aims to improve Egypt’s competitiveness in the environmental performance index and will target the implementation of 140 development projects in various sectors nationwide.



Egypt’s Net Foreign Assets Jump in March after IMF Review Approval

 Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Egypt’s Net Foreign Assets Jump in March after IMF Review Approval

 Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)

Egypt's net foreign assets jumped by $4.9 billion in March, central bank data showed, apparently boosted by the approval of the fourth review of the country's IMF program.

Net foreign assets climbed to the equivalent of $15.08 billion from $10.18 billion at the end of February, according to Reuters calculations based on official central bank currency exchange rates.

The International Monetary Fund in early March approved the disbursement to Egypt of $1.2 billion after completing its review of the country's $8 billion economic reform program. It also approved a request for a $1.3 billion arrangement under the IMF's resilience and sustainability facility.

Foreign investors were significant purchasers of Egyptian pound treasury bills after the approval and as one-year bills acquired after the March 2024 IMF agreement matured, two bankers said.

Egypt had been using foreign assets, which include assets held by both the central bank and commercial banks, to help prop up its currency since as long ago as September 2021. Net foreign assets turned negative in February 2022 and only returned to positive territory in May last year.

Foreign assets increased in February at both the central bank and commercial banks, while foreign liabilities rose at the central bank but declined at commercial banks.