Speaking at the regional workshop of the Arab Debt Management Group, held under his patronage, Kouchouk said improving debt indicators depends primarily on accelerating economic growth and boosting productivity, exports, and competitiveness—not only on fiscal adjustments.
The minister stressed that the government is working to create the fiscal space needed to meet essential and developmental needs, which requires lowering the burden of debt-service costs. Any exceptional revenues, he noted, will continue to be directed solely toward reducing the size and ratio of government debt.
Kouchouk said expanding the role of the private sector is central to sustaining growth and stability and to lowering government borrowing levels. He added that innovative financing tools, including debt-for-investment and debt-for-development swaps, are increasingly necessary to advance inclusive and sustainable development and improve living standards.
Kouchouk also highlighted the importance of using artificial intelligence to strengthen analysis and support better policy decision-making.
He said Egypt has made significant progress in debt management through an integrated strategy backed by the political leadership and state institutions.
Turning to economic performance, Kouchouk said growth exceeded 5.3 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The government recorded a primary surplus of 3.6 percent of GDP last year and is targeting 4 percent this year. At the same time, private-sector activity expanded strongly by 73 percent, accompanied by improvements in fiscal, economic, and tax performance.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is currently visiting Egypt for discussions related to the completion of the fifth and sixth reviews of the outstanding Extended Fund Facility (EFF) $8 billion loan programme, along with the first review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) $1.3 billion loan deal.
Under the EFF programme, Egypt aims to cut the debt-to-GDP ratio to around 72.5 percent by 2030 through fiscal discipline, primary surpluses, debt management, and asset sales (divestments), though challenges remain, especially high interest payments relative to revenues.
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