Egypt has decided to float its currency in a move that has reduced the Egyptian pound’s value by almost 50% against the US dollar.
One dollar is buying 13.5-14 Egyptian pounds, up from the nine Egyptian pounds the central bank was trying to keep it at.
Egypt’s central bank said the move was one of a list of reforms designed to strengthen confidence in the economy.
The country’s main stock index jumped by more than 8% on November 3.
The central bank has also increased interest rates by 3 percentage points to 14.75%.
The move is a key requirement of the IMF, from which Egypt is asking for a $12 billion loan over three years.
The IMF’s mission chief for Egypt, Chris Jarvis, said the move would make more foreign exchange available and would “help foster growth, job creation and stronger external position for the country”.
Although the liberalization should help Egypt to strengthen its economy, it will make life harder for Egyptians and the cost of all imported goods will rise sharply.
Another reform it is facing is reducing or removing altogether state subsidies on fuel to meet IMF conditions. It has already cut subsidies on household electricity and increased the price of sugar by 40% for some Egyptians.
Egypt imports about a third of its sugar needs but a shortage of hard currency has meant traders have struggled to buy from outside the country.
The military has been told to distribute a one-off package of basic food items, including sugar, at half price, to cushion the effect among the poorest.
Egypt has struggled to attract foreign investment since the political turmoil in 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring that saw former president Hosni Mubarak overthrown.
The change of regime dented tourism numbers, one of Egypt’s most important foreign currency earners, and prompted a general fall in international investor confidence.
The decline in hard currency income was exacerbated by the central bank’s efforts to prop up Egypt’s own currency. It was trying to hold it at the official rate of 8.88 Egyptian pounds, although on the black market dealers could buy far more Egyptian pounds.
The central bank said in a statement it had moved to a “liberalized exchange rate… to create an environment for a reliable and sustainable supply of foreign currency”.
A central bank auction of dollars was being held on November 3, allowing supply and demand to determine the value of the pound for the first time in decades.
Banks will be allowed to open their branches until 9pm and over the weekend to allow more transactions.
Egypt’s economy is the second largest in the Arab world, after Saudi Arabia.
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