Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk said on Wednesday the government is working to grow state resources through facilitation measures without imposing new burdens, aiming to better serve citizens and meet essential needs. He stressed that priority is being given to increasing spending on health, education and expanding targeted social protection programmes.
Speaking in an open dialogue with Ahmed El-Wakeel, head of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, MPs, tribal leaders and elders of Matrouh, in the presence of Governor Mohamed El-Zamlout, the minister underlined that the government’s core objective is to support all state institutions in improving services for citizens.
Kouchouk emphasised that partnership extends to the business community and “every citizen in Egypt,” with the goal of increasing investment, employment and competitiveness. He noted that tax and customs reforms are designed to improve conditions for partners and deliver positive change, pointing to strong responsiveness from the business community.
The minister revealed that more than 200,000 applications have been submitted to join the simplified tax system, and over 750,000 new or amended returns have disclosed additional taxes worth 97 billion pounds. He added that an integrated electronic system is being developed to improve services for citizens and taxpayers.
Kouchouk said economic activity is improving, with the private sector accounting for 60% of investments, and growth recorded in industry, tourism and IT. He explained that customs modernisation aims to reduce investment and logistics costs, enhancing Egypt’s competitiveness.
He confirmed that the second package of tax and customs incentives will be implemented with full commitment, building on the success of the first package.
For his part, El-Wakeel praised the tangible results achieved through genuine partnership between government and the private sector, noting that facilitation measures are rebuilding trust with the business community. Governor El-Zamlout highlighted that infrastructure development has driven economic growth in Matrouh, which enjoys diverse resources across multiple sectors.
