Ahmed Kouchouk, Egypt’s Finance Minister, stated that the priorities for public spending in the final quarter of the current fiscal year have been adjusted to address the challenges posed by the current exceptional circumstances.
In a statement, Kouchouk emphasized that all government entities are committed to rationalizing expenditures, focusing on essential needs, and ensuring the continuity of economic and productive activity.
The minister added that priority is being given to securing food and medicine supplies, supporting the education sector, and meeting the energy sector’s needs, including oil and electricity.
“We are keen to provide the necessary financial allocations to maintain the stability of essential services for citizens,” he said.
Kouchouk also noted that energy-intensive projects have been slowed or postponed under the current conditions.
He highlighted full coordination between the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Economic Development to rationalize capital spending and to refrain from starting any new projects.
Expenditure on training, travel, events, and other deferrable items is being curtailed, he explained, while efforts are underway to support government agencies in increasing their own revenues to ease pressure on the budget.
