Egypt tracks markets daily amid regional shocks

CAIRO - 21 MARCH 2026: Egypt’s Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk says the government’s immediate focus is simple: keep enough money flowing to cover people’s essential needs, keep food available in the market, and secure energy supplies, even as the region’s military escalation keeps pushing prices and markets around.

 

Kouchouk made the remarks while chairing the Ministry of Finance’s Crisis and Risk Management Committee, stressing that coordination is ongoing across state institutions to protect the local market and avoid supply disruptions.

 

Kouchouk said the state is continuing to spend more on the sectors that hit daily life the most, especially health and education, while also looking for “new and creative” ways to expand targeted social protection for the most vulnerable groups.

 

At the same time, he said the government intends to keep the economic machine running, production, manufacturing and exports, through “balanced” fiscal policies that also encourage investment.

 

On the business side, the finance minister said work is continuing on the export support program, with the ministry studying extra tools to give exporters a stronger push.

 

He also said the government remains committed to supporting the automotive industry through incentives that encourage deeper local manufacturing. Recent official coverage of the car industry file has focused on linking incentives to real performance, including local content and output.

 

Kouchouk said the government is moving ahead with tax, customs and property-related facilitation to reduce pressure on both citizens and investors, while also improving how public money is spent by directing allocations toward priorities and cutting waste.

 

He also underlined the need for daily monitoring of global economic developments and international trade, because the spillover can hit quickly through energy prices, shipping costs and insurance premiums.