Egypt cut its budget deficit to 12.8% of GDP for the year to June 2014. This is down from 13.7% for 2012-13, though still well up on 9.8% for 2010-11. Though the deficit rose in nominal terms to E£255.4bn from E£239.8bn the previous year, in real $US terms it fell by 10% to just under $40bn (see table).
The reduction is thanks to $10.6bn “exceptional assistance” received from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE during the year, Finance Minister Hani Qadri Dimian said on 8 November in a review of the closed budgets accounts. Of this, $7.6bn (72%) came in the form of petroleum products and $3bn in cash. (CONTINUED - 631 WORDS)
