Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk discussed debt and tax in an interview with Hadret El Mowaten's Sayed Ali last night (watch, runtime: 16:41).

Tax facilities are bringing cash into the light: The ministry’s package of tax facilities is yielding early dividends in formalizing the economy, with over EGP 1 tn in previously "hidden" economic activity reported and EGP 80 bn in tax payments collected as a direct result of these filings.

Tax revenue grew 35% during the first five months of the current fiscal year, matching last year’s growth rate. Kouchouk signaled that the budget deficit is on a steady downward trajectory, forecasting better performance this fiscal year compared to the historical average.

Where’s the long-awaited public debt strategy? The government will hold a press conference in the coming weeks to unveil its comprehensive debt management strategy, Kouchouk said, adding that the strategy will focus on long-term structural debt reduction. He reiterated the Prime Minister’s December pledge to bring external debt down to levels not seen in half a century.

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