An International Monetary Fund mission will begin a four-day visit to Egypt on Monday to meet with government leaders, after the fund recently agreed on a US$3.2 billion loan with Egypt's transitional government.
An IMF source, who requested not to be identified, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the fund has received documents from the Egyptian government describing a reform program that will confront the country's economic challenges.
The IMF is ready to support reform programs that are passed by the People's Assembly and enjoy broad support across Egypt's political spectrum, the source said.
The mission, headed by Masood Ahmed, the fund's regional director, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri, People's Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny, Freedom and Justice Party Chairman Mohamed Morsy, Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater and a number of other political figures.
The source added that the IMF conditioned its loan on Egyptian authorities passing an economic reform program that enjoys broad political support.
These are the fund's preliminary conditions, and it will continue to follow up on the Egyptian government's implementation of the reform program, the source said.
The source added that IMF workers have been in contact with Egyptian officials since they returned from their first visit to Egypt last January. On that trip, they discussed what should be included in any potential reform program, which would protect macroeconomic stability during Egypt's transitional period and create favorable conditions for growth.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
