Talks with Egypt to boost its International Monetary Fund loan programme are making excellent progress, the IMF said yesterday, saying that Egypt needs a “very comprehensive support package” to deal with economic challenges, including pressures from the war in Gaza, Reuters reports. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that IMF staff and Egyptian authorities agreed on the main elements of programme changes under combined first and second reviews of Egypt’s existing $3 billion loan, and “authorities have expressed a strong commitment” to them. She declined to discuss details of the Egypt package as the negotiations are continuing. Asked about the impact on the talks from challenges posed by the expected entry of Gaza refugees into Egypt, Kozack … Continue reading IMF seeks to boost Egypt ahead of possible entry of Gaza refugees