WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The IMF announced an 
initial deal over its latest program reviews for Egypt, paving the way to 
unlocking $2.5 billion in funding to the country as it pushes to liberalize 
its economy.

Caught in one of its worst economic crises in history, Egypt secured an 
expanded $8 billion package over nearly four years from the International 
Monetary Fund in March last year, contingent on a series of economic reforms.

And in March this year, the global lender approved a new loan worth $1.3 
billion for Egypt.

The IMF on Monday said it "reached staff level agreement on the fifth and 
sixth reviews under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and the 
first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)".

"Stabilization efforts have delivered important gains and the Egyptian 
economy is showing signs of robust growth," IMF mission chief Ivanna Vladkova 
Hollar said.

"Going forward, efforts to reduce the role of the state need to be 
accelerated," she added.

If approved by the IMF executive board, some $2.5 billion of financing will 
be unlocked from the $8 billion expanded loan, as well the $1.3 billion from 
the deal concluded this year.