China to Invest $5 Bn in Egypt

Officials touring the Chinese projects in Egypt (Suez Canal Economic Zone)
Officials touring the Chinese projects in Egypt (Suez Canal Economic Zone)
TT

China to Invest $5 Bn in Egypt

Officials touring the Chinese projects in Egypt (Suez Canal Economic Zone)
Officials touring the Chinese projects in Egypt (Suez Canal Economic Zone)

Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone is in negotiations with Chinese companies to implement investment projects worth $5 billion, according to an official statement from the Suez Canal Authority.

The deputy chairman of the southern part of the Zone, Walid Youssef, visited the Chinese industrial zone TEDA in Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea coast.

Youssef met with several directors of Chinese companies operating in the region to follow up on developments in implementing investment projects.

The meeting discussed some Chinese projects to be implemented through the ongoing negotiations with TEDA-Egypt.

In a press release, the Suez Canal Economic Zone indicated that Chinese companies intended to implement industrial projects in Egypt for the first time, with total investments of $5 billion, providing at least 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The meeting discussed cooperation during the coming period and mechanisms for attracting more Chinese investments to the region, especially after the expansions and new production lines.

The meeting addressed some outstanding issues and problems facing investors in light of global and political changes affecting global supply chains.

According to the statement, the official affirmed that the administration is determined to attract the largest possible amount of investments in the industrial sectors to meet the needs of local and regional markets.

For his part, Vice Minister and Deputy Chairman for Investment Ibrahim Abdelkhalek described the trade and economic relations between Egypt and China as "strong," referring to efforts to attract more Chinese investments in the region as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The UN determines the Belt and Road Initiative as a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government, which includes infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.

The meeting discussed requests for new projects from developers and investors for approval under the Authority's regulations.

The Zone announced that during the coming period, the largest Chinese factory to manufacture electrical appliances would begin operations and exportation to global markets.



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
TT

IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.