The Pandemic Should Spur New Reforms in Egypt

As it tries to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt’s government has begun to plan for a recovery. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly recently participated in a symposium on “opportunities and priorities” in a post-pandemic era. More significant, the government is also pursuing new financing from the International Monetary Fund.

While the last IMF bailout and the economic reforms that followed helped stabilize Egypt’s finances and secure access to private-sector borrowing, it failed to address many of the structural problems that prevented a sustainable economic recovery. The pandemic has increased the urgency of a new round of reforms, focusing on inclusivity, resilience and sustainability.