Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed on Monday that the state budget belongs to citizens as its primary contributors and stakeholders, stressing the ministry’s commitment to expanding community participation in setting budget priorities through greater transparency, disclosure and practical initiatives that deliver tangible benefits for people.
Speaking at the Budget Transparency Forum, organised by D-Code Consulting in coordination with the International Budget Partnership (IBP), Kouchouk said the ministry remains open to all proposals that strengthen partnership with citizens and support the adoption of innovative, development-focused community initiatives.
He said the ministry is working closely with all state institutions to improve public services and financial disclosure by simplifying budget data, providing clearer explanations and ensuring information is published in a timely manner.
The minister also highlighted close co-operation with the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Central Auditing Organisation and other partners.
He announced that ministerial decisions would be issued to institutionalise financial disclosure, regulate the regular publication of financial data and establish a clear roadmap for further improving transparency and accountability.
Deputy Minister of Finance Yasser Sobhy said Egypt advanced ten places in the 2025 Open Budget Index, ranking tenth globally in financial oversighpt.
He noted that the country’s score for parliamentary oversight increased from 53 to 61 points, while the budget oversight indicator improved by five points.
Egypt also maintained its position in the public participation category, reflecting continued progress in the quality of financial disclosure and publicly available budget information.
Minister’s Advisor for Budget Transparency and Community Participation Sarah Eid said Egypt now ranks among the world’s top six countries for strengthening local public participation in the preparation of government plans and decisions, and among the top five countries for achieving significant progress in legislative and financial oversight indicators.
She added that the improvements recorded in the International Budget Partnership’s indicators are the result of more than a decade of sustained reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management, enhancing transparency and promoting greater citizen engagement in the budget process.
