EGP 1.7tn debts issue must be resolved with speed: Al-Sisi

Sara Aggour
2 Min Read
president-elect Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi (AFP PHOTO/STR)
Egypt's ex-army chief and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gives his first television interview since announcing his candidacy in Cairo on May 4, 2014. Sisi is expected to win the May 26-27 election easily riding on a wave of popularity after he ousted in July Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected president. The 59-year-old retired field marshal, dressed in a suit and appearing composed and often smiling in what was a pre-recorded interview, is seen by supporters as a strong leader who can restore stability, but his opponents fear that might come at the cost of freedoms sought in the pro-democracy uprising three years ago.  (AFP PHOTO/STR)
Egypt’s ex-army chief and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gives his first television interview since announcing his candidacy in Cairo on May 4, 2014. 
(AFP PHOTO/STR)

The volume of domestic and foreign debt has reached EGP 1.7tn,  presidential candidate Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said Tuesday during a TV interview, adding that this debt “should not be inherited by future generations”.

Egypt’s external foreign debt increased to $47bn at the end of September 2013, compared to $43.2bn at the end of June. According to the Central Bank of Egypt, the $3.6bn increase was driven by “net disbursements of foreign loans, facilities and deposits in the amount of $3.3bn.”

“In order to solve this issue [of debts] do we need to walk, run or jump?” the former Minister of Defence asked. He stressed that debt issues should be solved with speed.

“I will not sleep and neither will you [the Egyptians citizens],” Al-Sisi said.

Cairo University economic professor and expert Alia El-Mahdy said that although she hopes the plan is accomplished quickly, she expressed her doubt regarding that possibility.

“It is not easily accomplished,” El-Mahdy said, adding that the sources through which debt problems will be solved have not been identified.

Discussing the financing of these projects, Al-Sisi said that aside from “stimulating the working capabilities of Egyptians, Arab and foreign funding will be used to finance these projects”. He added that investors should be provided with a “real investment climate”.

The presidential candidate added that around EGP 1tn is needed to solve the debt crisis the country is facing.

El-Mahdy said that this figure is equivalent of some $136bn; therefore, the country would need $36bn each year to solve its debt problem. She added that the “question here is how Egypt will get these investments”.

“The amount of investments that will reach Egypt from Arab, foreign investors along with the Egyptians living abroad was not specified,” El-Mahdy said.

Share This Article
2 Comments