Egypt will discuss the possibility of a bigger-than-expected $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund this month, when head Christine Lagarde will lead a delegation to Cairo on August 22nd, Minister of Finance said. Lagarde's presence was requested by Egypt but could signal a fresh determination on both sides to seal a long-awaited accord after new Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi appointed his first government last month. "Her visit is a reflection of the IMF's continuous commitment to support Egypt and its people during this historic period of transition," it said. During 18 months of political turmoil since the overthrow of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak, successive Egyptian governments negotiated with the IMF to secure emergency funding that various officials had put at $3.2 billion. No deal has been reached and Egypt's fiscal and balance of payment problems have worsened. An exodus of foreign investors in the wake of the turmoil left local banks shouldering almost all short-term lending to the state, sending its borrowing costs to unsustainable highs. "We will discuss, in the negotiations we are to carry out with the IMF, increasing the loan to $4.8 billion," finance minister Momtaz El-Saeed told reporters in Cairo, adding that he asked the United States on Tuesday for a $500 million grant to support the state budget. An IMF deal would also help Egypt add credibility to economic reforms needed to restore investor confidence. Foreign reserves have fallen to well under half levels seen before last year's popular uprising against Mubarak and investors' reluctance to return is born partly of fears that a sharp currency devaluation could wipe out any returns. Egypt's 2012-13 budget sees a 12.5 percent rise in the deficit. The deficit would represent 7.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), down from 8.2 percent a year earlier, although most economists forecast lower GDP growth than the government's estimate of 4-4.5 percent. Tax receipts have suffered from a weak economy and the previous government boosted spending to meet popular demands for better living standards after Mubarak's overthrow. Aid promised by foreign donors last year was largely absent until June, when funds arrived from Saudi Arabia. Saudi transferred $1.5 billion as direct budget support, approved $430 million in project aid and said it would allow Cairo to use a $750 million credit line to import oil products. Saeed said this week that Qatar should place the first $500 million tranche of a $2 billion deposit in the central bank within a week. Reuters
