Egypt Sets Customs Exchange Rate of 19.32 Pounds/US Dollar

Annual inflation in Egypt is at its highest level in nearly four years (AFP)
Annual inflation in Egypt is at its highest level in nearly four years (AFP)
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Egypt Sets Customs Exchange Rate of 19.32 Pounds/US Dollar

Annual inflation in Egypt is at its highest level in nearly four years (AFP)
Annual inflation in Egypt is at its highest level in nearly four years (AFP)

Egypt has set a customs exchange rate of 19.318 Egyptian pounds to the US dollar from Sept., a change from 18.64 pounds in June, state newspaper Akhbar al-Youm reported on Thursday citing the customs authority.

Egypt devalued its pound by 14 percent in March after foreign investors pulled billions of dollars out of Egyptian treasury markets, putting pressure on the currency, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, Egypt’s Suez Canal announced revenues of $744.8 million in August and the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) witnessed a weekly increase of 3.3 percent.

In March, the IMF announced that Egypt had requested a new financial support program, but in July said the country needed to make “decisive progress” on fiscal and structural reform.

The benchmark ended weekly trading at 10265.35 points, compared to 9936.87 points last week. Its gains ranged between 0.3 percent and 1.8 percent in four sessions during the week’s five sessions. Losses amounted to 0.9 percent.

The EGX ended Thursday’s session at a 0.32 percent increase.

In August, Egypt recorded the highest level of inflation in Egypt’s cities since November 2018, when the figures reached 15.7 percent.

Consumer prices climbed 14.6 percent from a year earlier in August, versus 13.6 percent the previous month, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics said Thursday.

The annual inflation rate in the North African country rose to 15.3 percent.

The central bank has an inflation target rate of 5 percent to 9 percent but said in June that it would tolerate a higher level during the coming months.



Coordination Committee Seeks to Promote Bahraini-Saudi Tourism Exhibitions

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
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Coordination Committee Seeks to Promote Bahraini-Saudi Tourism Exhibitions

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 
Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority 

Sara Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, revealed the formation of a committee dedicated to coordinating exhibitions, conferences, and tourism events between Manama and Riyadh, with the aim to maximize mutual benefits for both countries in the sector.
Buhijji was speaking on the sidelines of the 9th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, held in Bahrain from November 18-19.
The event, which is taking place for the first time in the Middle East, is organized by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, the UN World Tourism Organization, and the Basque Culinary Center.
According to Buhijji, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are promoting a shared tourism product, given their geographical proximity and close ties. Visitors to Manama can easily travel to Saudi Arabia, either via the King Fahd Causeway—reaching the Eastern Province in less than 20 minutes—or by air, with a flight to Riyadh taking approximately 30 minutes.
She also highlighted a targeted effort to attract tourists from five key countries, including GCC nations, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia as one of the largest sources of visitors to Bahrain.
Buhijji emphasized the significance of hosting the 9th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in the Middle East, which has attracted over 650 participants from 59 countries, including the GCC.
She noted that hosting such a prominent event demonstrates Bahrain’s capability to attract large-scale events, thanks to its robust infrastructure, numerous hotels, and Bahrain International Airport’s capacity to handle a significant number of visitors.