
Egypt paid US$ 13.3 billion in interest and installments in 3 months: CBE
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced that Egypt has paid approximately US$13.354 billion in interest and installments on its external debt during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024/2025.
In its monthly statistical bulletin on Tuesday, the CBE added that debt service burdens are divided into $1.861 billion in interest paid and $11.492 billion in installments paid.
The CBE explained that Egypt's external debt declined by approximately $111 million during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024/2025, reaching $155.09 billion by the end of December 2024, compared to $155.20 billion by the end of September 2024.
The Central Bank's report indicated that foreign client investments in treasury bills rose to the equivalent of LE1.914 trillion by the end of March 2025, compared to LE1.741 trillion by the end of February, and approximately LE1.612 trillion by the end of 2024.
Private bank investments in treasury bills reached LE710.844 billion, compared to LE725.784 billion by the end of February.
The CBE explained that public sector bank investments reached LE469.917 billion by the end of March, compared to LE 515.601 billion by the end of February.
Specialized bank investments reached approximately LE111.777 billion by the end of March, compared to LE 101.807 billion by the end of February.
Investments by foreign bank branches reached approximately LE 59.300 billion by the end of March 2025, compared to LE 52.501 billion by the end of February 2025.
Banking expert Mohamed Abdel-Aal affirmed that Egypt has never backed down from fulfilling its obligations to pay interest and installments on its foreign debt over the past years, noting that the state's commitment to this issue reflects strong a political will and financial discipline in spite of global economic challenges.
Heexplained that Egypt's repayment of $13.354 billion during the second quarter of the 2024-2025 fiscal year sends a positive and reassuring message to international institutions and creditors, and enhances confidence in the Egyptian economy and its ability to withstand and recover.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mada
6 hours ago
- Mada
Govt grants renewables companies first licenses to sell directly to private sector, ‘speeding up' electricity liberalization
Egypt's government has granted four renewable energy companies permission to contract directly with private industrial consumers in what an informed source described as 'a very big step' toward liberalizing the country's electricity sector. The deal represents a 'slow transition' toward a free energy market, and will likely encourage more actors to enter the sector, said another source, a senior executive at one of the energy companies included in the government's decision. Regulatory groundwork for the development has been in place since 2015 alongside plans, recommended by international lenders, to cut subsidies on electricity rates for individual and corporate consumers. But the government has been slow to implement these policies in an already turbulent economic environment. Both the government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is providing technical support for the policy, announced the deals in recent weeks. The Cabinet said it had awarded contracts for the supply of solar and wind power to heavy, exporting industries to Enara and Taqa Arabia, both Egyptian-owned, AMEA, a Dubai-based company, and Neptune Energy. The providers will be allowed to use state-owned transmission infrastructure via the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) to wheel the power to private-sector consumers: Helwan Fertilizers, Alamein Silicon Products Complex, Ezz Steel, AP Moller (Suez Canal Container Terminal), BEFAR Group and Suez Steel. The informed source said that the companies had applied for an open bid by EgyptERA and were likely chosen on the basis of their experience and financial position. The total investments will be worth around US$388 million, the Cabinet said at the end of May, producing around 400 MW. In exchange for the wheeling services, the private companies will pay EETC the equivalent of around LE0.17 per kWh if they transmit the energy using a High Voltage line, and LE0.0725 if they use the Extra High Voltage line, according to the national electricity regulator, EgyptERA. 'There is talk that the wheeling fee could be updated by EgyptERA because there was a request from EETC to increase it a bit,' according to the informed source. The rate will not bring major revenues to the EETC in fees The real difference will be felt in the electricity sector's business environment, according to the two industry insiders who spoke to Mada Masr. Private generation companies were previously able to contract directly with consumers outside of the government-regulated sector. This meant companies were limited to using client premises which are often too small for the necessary infrastructure, capping the potential generation capacity especially for renewable energy, the executive source said. Now, the source continued, private companies will get to install power stations 'wherever' land is available, and get grid access to transmit power to clients 'wherever they may be.' The informed source noted that land allocations are yet to happen, however, adding that implementation will still take some time for the four companies. They described the projects approved as a pilot round, intended 'to set down all these rules, so that future projects are able to follow it as a blueprint.' But the source noted that there is a direction in government to 'speed up' planned liberalization of the electricity sector in general. They pointed to the recent approval granted in April for the EETC to be separated from the ministry-owned Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, a measure laid out in a 2015 law to turn the EETC into a sector regulator providing wheeling services to private power generation firms, rather than supplying electricity to consumers itself. The EETC's separation is due to be complete in July, according to state media services. In the government's announcement, the Cabinet said the policy was intended to stimulate 'private investment and increase the participation of private companies in energy projects' in order to 'to enhance competitiveness' in the sector. They also framed the step as part of efforts toward green transition and sustainable development. Egypt currently relies on natural gas, a heavier pollutant than coal, for 79 percent of its power needs. As Egypt's oil and gas production declined in recent years, the government has been increasingly relying on imported fuel to meet rising domestic consumption.


Egypt Today
13 hours ago
- Egypt Today
Stock market lands in the red on Thursday, Market cap. slips to LE 2.296Trn
Cairo – June 12, 2025: The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) broke its post-Eid vacation green streak as indices plunged before the weekend. EGX 30 fell by 1.29 percent to hit 32,511.68 points during Thursday's session. The Shariah index (EGX 33) dropped by 1.86 percent to end the session with 3,370.16 points. EGX 70 plummeted by 2.63 percent to 9,605.19 points, followed by EGX 100 slipping by 2.31 percent to close the session with 13,070.09 points. Thursday's session reported 1.89 billion shares exchanged with a turnover of LE 5.70 billion. Market capitalization was recorded at LE 2.296,2 trillion. Trading on securities saw Egyptian investors as net sellers with LE 63.1 million. Foreign and Arab traders were net buyers with LE 32.7 million and LE 30.4 million, respectively. Individual traders controlled the majority of trades with 72.46 percent of overall activity. The top gains of the session were by Samad Misr -EGYFERT which climbed by 10.57 percent, Misr Beni Suef Cement by 3.69 percent, and Gulf Canadian Real Estate Investment Co. by 2.76 percent.


Al-Ahram Weekly
14 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Red Sea land allocated for sukuk issuance, not sold: Egypt Finance Ministry - Economy
Egypt's Ministry of Finance confirmed on Thursday that the ownership of the prime plot of land allocated to the ministry in the Red Sea Governorate will not be transferred to any entity and will be used for issuing sovereign sukuk (Islamic bonds) to reduce government debt. In a statement, the ministry confirmed that the land will not be sold but rather used as collateral for issuing sukuk, which will allow it to be developed and used. It added that this initiative aims to secure financing under favorable terms to cover the needs of the state's general budget. It also stressed that the land would remain under full ownership of the Egyptian state, which is represented by the ministry. The statement further explained that the move aims to use part of the land to achieve optimal country development through partnerships and deals with financial sector entities and economic authorities within the government. It said the strategy includes replacing some of the existing debt owed by budgetary agencies to these government bodies with joint investment ventures. This strategy will first reduce budgetary agency debt and the overall debt servicing burden. It will also help develop the land into productive, service-oriented tourism and real estate projects, generating long-term, sustainable economic returns and job opportunities for future generations. The ministry noted that these measures will improve public finances, reduce government debt, boost economic activity, enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, and lower financing costs. Moreover, they will create additional fiscal space to increase spending on social protection programmes for the most vulnerable and lower-income groups and raise allocations for human development sectors, particularly health and education. Managing debt The ministry statement followed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's decision on Tuesday to assign 174 million square metres of state-owned land in the Red Sea Governorate to the Ministry of Finance as part of ongoing efforts to manage public debt and fund sovereign sukuk issuance. The decision aligns with a broader government strategy to enhance debt sustainability. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly recently emphasized Egypt's commitment to responsible borrowing, noting that recent bond issuances are designed to extend debt maturity timelines. In its monthly statistical bulletin on Tuesday, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said Egypt's external debt declined by approximately $111 million during the second quarter (Q2) of fiscal year (FY) 2024/2025. It reached $155.09 billion by the end of December 2024, compared to $155.20 billion by September 2024. The CBE added that Egypt has paid approximately $13.354 billion in interest and installments on its external debt during Q2 of FY2024/2025. The Tuesday bulletin also indicated that debt service burdens are divided into $1.861 billion paid in interest and $11.492 billion paid in installments. Sukuk bonds are Shariah-compliant financial instruments that offer investors a share in a tangible asset rather than a debt obligation. They rely on a profit-sharing or leasing structure, unlike traditional bonds that generate income from interest. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: