IMF Staff Country Reports

This paper discusses Egypt’s First Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Requests for Waivers for Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria (PCs). All quantitative PCs for December 2016 were met, but a large depreciation of the pound is posing policy challenges. Because of higher costs of fuel products, the end-June targets for the fuel subsidy bill and the primary deficit are likely to have been missed. The authorities are taking corrective measures by implementing a stronger fiscal adjustment in the next two years, including through the fuel subsidy reform. The IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for the completion of the first review under the Extended Arrangement under the EFF arrangement.