Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed that four key fiscal policy priorities constitute the core foundation for achieving sustainable growth, improving the business environment, and enhancing citizens' quality of life. Kouchouk emphasised that the Ministry of Finance's foremost strategic goal is to invest in human capital and improve the conditions of public sector employees. He also underscored the importance of fostering effective internal communication through various tools and platforms to encourage idea-sharing and promote teamwork. Speaking during an open dialogue with senior ministry officials at the Strategic Planning Forum, Kouchouk said: "We work in service of the people. Our ultimate goal is to improve their quality of life." He added that the ministry remains committed to building bridges of trust and partnership with both the private sector and citizens through consistent efforts to transform realities on the ground and ease financial pressures. Fiscal policy, he noted, must go beyond traditional indicators of discipline and stability to play a broader role in stimulating economic activity and inclusive growth. The minister outlined Egypt's continued commitment to reducing public debt levels, improving fiscal indicators, and creating fiscal space to increase spending on human development and social protection. He noted that in the coming years, greater focus will be placed on investment in health and education, alongside initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to citizens. The ministry, he added, will continue to support all government bodies in delivering higher-quality services to both citizens and investors. Ahmed Kouchouk, Egypt's Minister of Finance Deputy Minister for Fiscal Policies Yasser Sobhy stressed that clearly defining and accurately prioritising objectives is essential to the success of any fiscal or economic policy, noting that the ministry seeks to maintain a balance between economic efficiency and social responsibility. Meanwhile, Sherif El-Kilany, Deputy Minister for Tax Policies, stated that Egypt's tax and customs reform efforts reflect a deeper and more forward-looking strategic vision. He highlighted that recent tax facilitation measures have yielded positive outcomes, while reforms to the customs system continue to enhance efficiency and transparency. Ahmed Abdel Razek, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, noted that the ministry is updating its strategic plan to better align with Egypt's evolving fiscal policy priorities and development goals. Dalia Fouad, Director-General of the General Department for Monitoring and Evaluation, explained that the ministry places strong emphasis on training its staff in strategic planning to ensure objectives are achieved collaboratively and effectively. Mohamed Omar, CEO of Cortex, added that the company is partnering with the ministry to translate its strategic plan into actionable programmes with clear, measurable objectives and outcomes.
