Egyptian Pound Hits Five-Year Low Against US Dollar

The Egyptian pound recorded its lowest level in five and a half years, after falling 0.05% during Monday’s trade. (AFP)
The Egyptian pound recorded its lowest level in five and a half years, after falling 0.05% during Monday’s trade. (AFP)
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Egyptian Pound Hits Five-Year Low Against US Dollar

The Egyptian pound recorded its lowest level in five and a half years, after falling 0.05% during Monday’s trade. (AFP)
The Egyptian pound recorded its lowest level in five and a half years, after falling 0.05% during Monday’s trade. (AFP)

The Egyptian pound dropped to its lowest level in five and a half years, after falling 0.05% during Monday’s trade.

Refinitiv data showed that the pound traded 18.91 to the dollar, down from 18.81 pounds on Sunday.

The last time the currency reached that level was on January 24, 2017.

Egypt's central bank raised its key interest rates by 100 basis points in an exceptional monetary policy committee meeting on March 21.

The pound has been affected by an increased demand for dollars by importers. Indirect foreign investments have been pulling out of the country after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates.

Cairo is facing a number of economic and social challenges.

Its tourism sector has been affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Russian and Ukrainian tourists account for almost a third of total of visitors.

This coincided with the surge in global energy and food prices, which are the drivers of inflation in the country.

Separately, Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) announced a tender to receive imported wheat from five countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil.

The opening session of the tender will take place on Tuesday, while the deciding session will be held on July 20, the authority said.

Importers can submit their offers based on cost and freight (C&F), as well as paying with 180-day suppliers facilities, it added.

The shipments will be charged in four periods from September 16 to 30, October 1 to 15, October 16 to 31, and November 1 to 15.

Bidders can apply for all or one of the shipping periods, the GASC noted.



Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
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Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in the Energy Transitions Working Group meetings, the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 9th Mission Innovation Ministerial, held this week in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, where he emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth and energy security.
The meetings focused on sustainable energy policies and equitable energy transitions within G20 efforts to enhance international cooperation aimed at achieving environmental sustainability and supporting innovations in clean energy technologies.
Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth, energy security, and climate change mitigation. He highlighted the Kingdom's leadership in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, as well as its commitment to leading by example in leveraging circular carbon economy technologies, and affirmed the Kingdom's ambition to become a global leader in the production and export of clean energy.
Prince Abdulaziz also outlined Saudi Arabia's efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity, which is expected to reach approximately 44 gigawatts by the end of 2024, and touched upon the establishment of a hydrogen production hub in Ras Al Khair Industrial City, along with a major carbon capture and storage project, which will have a capacity of 9 million tons annually by 2027.