Egyptian Finance Minister Dr. Ahmed Kouchouk has put an end to the controversy surrounding reports circulating about Egypt's obligation to repay $62 billion of loans it obtained within just 12 months.
Journalist Sayed Ali quoted the Minister of Finance's statements to his television program on Saturday evening, confirming that more than two-thirds of these funds are deposits from Arab countries, and that there is an agreement to renew them; which means that they are not immediate dues.
The minister confirmed that the amounts due from the budget authorities in all their departments during the year 2026 amount to $9.5 billion, which is less than last year, reflecting an improvement in the management of external debt, according to him.
He added that the state is working to convert Arab deposits into investments, in addition to the existence of facilities between the Central Bank and some central banks or other entities that are being renewed, along with facilities with international banks that are renewed annually.
He pointed to the work on diversifying sources of funding and extending debt maturities to ease the burden of repayment, explaining that the measures taken have led to improved financial indicators and macroeconomic stability, despite global challenges.
He stressed that Egypt is committed to paying all its obligations on schedule, while continuing negotiations to renew Arab deposits in a way that serves the interests of both parties, and affirmed that the state is studying options for converting these deposits into productive investments that generate a sustainable return.
The past few hours have witnessed widespread controversy due to the revelation that $62 billion in loans are due to be repaid by March 2027, including $7 billion in interest and $55.8 billion in loan installments.
