The economy once again dominated last night’s talk shows, with hosts focusing onFinance Minister Mohamed Maait, CBE Governor Hassan Abdalla, and International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat’s meeting with the US Treasury secretary in Washington yesterday. However, the nation’s talking heads also found time to talk about an Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian summit set to take place in Aqaba today.

Will Egypt get a yes from the IMF? If the Egyptian delegation is able to convince the IMF and US Treasury Department officials to support us, the current year will be less difficult than expected and Egypt will witness a major breakthrough in terms of the loan program and its expansion, economist Medhat Nafie told Kelma Akhira. Egypt needs to increase the size of the IMF package to no less with USD 6 bn with “some flexibility” regarding future reviews, Nafie added. (watch, runtime: 2:21).

The World Bank’s latest growth forecasts for the globe are the worst in 30 years and put 2024 on route to be the worst and slowest year in terms of global economic and trade growth rates, Lamees El Hadidi said during Kelma Akhira, (watch, runtime: 1:15). The lender’s report also received coverage from Ahmed Musa on Ala Mas’ouleety, (watch, runtime: 10:32).

Tripartite summit in Aqaba: Today’s anticipated summit between Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine in Aqaba will be a time for the three countries to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the future of the enclave after the war, El Hadidi said. The timing of the summit is important as it coincides with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s tour of the region before he lands down in Egypt as it is the only country to have put forward a clear plan for post-war arrangements in Gaza El Hadidi told her viewers. El Hadidi also pointed to the shift in Blinken’s statements regarding the US’ desire to end the war as soon as possible and the need for Israel to give Palestinians their rights (watch, runtime: 3:15 | 3:48).

Also on the airwaves last night:

  • A seven-pronged strategy to develop the EGX: EGX boss Ahmed El Sheikh appeared on Masaa DMC to discuss a plan to support and encourage trading on the bourse. El Sheikh added that the EGX is capable of achieving much larger daily trading volumes, but that the instability of the exchange rate currently restricts the entry of foreign investors into the market (watch, runtime 5:15 | 6:18 | 4:49 | 3:38 | 4:32 | 6:27).
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