Egypt’s foreign reserves reached $36.036bn in July, a record high, which the prime minister described as “good news” as it shows that the economy is recovering, the central bank said on Tuesday.
The bank announced the increase in a brief statement saying that the figure is $4.7bn higher compared to the previous month. In December 2010, foreign reserves reached $36bn.
Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail hailed the increase of the foreign reserves saying, “this is an assuring message about the Egyptian economy and that we are capable of covering the needs of the Egyptian people.”
“This means that the Egyptian economy has recovered,” he said.
READ: Egypt to end visas on arrival for Qataris
The economic measures were hailed by the IMF but have left many Egyptians struggling with both reduced buying power and spiraling inflation while the government struggles to generate jobs in country with an official population of 92 million.
This summer, Egypt raised electricity prices by more than 40% and increased gasoline prices by up to 55% while doubling the price of the household staple butane canisters, used for cooking.
Ahead of the latest hikes, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi approved a package of measures benefiting middle and lower class Egyptians, including income tax relief, bonuses for state employees, increases in pensions and ration card subsidies.
The government embarked on the economic reform program soon after al-Sisi took office three years ago. Egypt’s economy has been battered since the 2011 uprising and continues to face major challenges, including a rising Islamic militancy.
Tourism, a major pillar of national revenue, was dealt a blow in 2015 when militants belonging to an affiliate of the Islamic State group downed a Russian airliner killing all 224 people aboard.
AP
