The International Monetary Fund has revised its growth forecasts for Egypt upwards to reach 5.4% in the fiscal year (FY) 2026/27, citing a positive shift in economic indicators. In its January 2026 World Economic Outlook Update, the IMF raised Egypt’s GDP growth projection for the FY 2025/26 to 4.7%, which represents a 0.2 percentage point increase from its October forecast. The outlook for the following FY 2026/27 was upgraded more significantly by 0.7 percentage points to 5.4%. The 2026 global forecast marks a small upward revision of 0.2 percentage points compared with the October 2025 report. On the upside, rapid AI adoption could lift global growth by as much as 0.3 percentage points in 2026 if it translates into strong productivity gains and increased business dynamism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the committee that will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, his spokesman said on Monday. Speaking to reporters during a regular media briefing, Dmitry Peskov said “President Putin also received through diplomatic channels an invitation to join this Board of Peace.”He said the Kremlin is now reviewing the invitation and “hoping to get more details from the US side.”The establishment of the board, chaired by Trump, is a key step in the United Nations-backed American plan to demilitarize and rebuild Gaza, which was ravaged by two years of war between Israel and the Hamas militant group. Described by Trump as the “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled,” the committee will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Argentinian President Javier Milei and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also received invitations to join, according to statements from them or their offices.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government is closely monitoring development efforts in Matrouh governorate through on-the-ground inspections and regular meetings, as part of a comprehensive vision aimed at maximizing the use of the governorate’s economic potential, particularly its Mediterranean coastline. Madbouly made the remarks during a meeting on Sunday, January 18, 2026, to review the implementation status of development and infrastructure projects in Matrouh, attended by Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, Housing, Public Utilities and Urban Communities Minister Sherif al-Sherbiny, Matrouh Governor Khaled Shoaib, and senior officials from planning, engineering and urban development authorities. The prime minister said Matrouh’s coastal strip positions it to become a global hub for diverse development projects, underscoring the government’s focus on transforming the governorate into a year-round destination for tourism and residence.According to Cabinet spokesman Mohamed al-Homsany, the meeting reviewed progress on several ongoing projects, including tourism development initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, utilities and road networks. These efforts are part of a broader state plan to enhance Matrouh’s standing and promote it as a permanent tourism and living destination, rather than a seasonal resort area.The government’s strategy, officials said, seeks to support sustainable development, improve services and infrastructure, and attract investment, in line with Egypt’s wider urban and tourism development agenda.

CAIRO, Jan 18 (MENA) — The National Committee for Gaza Management (NCAG), a transitional body established under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, has convened its opening session in Cairo on January 15, 2026. He characterized the NCAG as a Palestinian body created by Palestinians for Palestinians, supported by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Palestinian Authority, and various Palestinian factions. Osama al Saadawi was announced commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hana Tarazi for Social Security, and Ali Barhoum for Water, Utilities, and Local Authorities. In his first official act, Shaath signed the NCAG mission statement, which declares the committee’s dedication to transforming Gaza’s transition into a pillar of lasting Palestinian prosperity. “We are building peace that paves the way for achieving Palestinian rights and the right to self-determination,” the statement stated.

CAIRO, Jan 18 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty will receive Ali Shaath, head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), on Monday at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. Abdelatty has reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the formation of a technocratic committee to administer the Gaza Strip in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2803, stressing the need for the committee to promptly assume governance duties and manage the daily affairs of Palestinians in the territory. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a newly formed transitional technocratic body, held its inaugural meeting in Cairo following its establishment under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20-point peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump. The meeting formally marked the committee’s assumption of civil administration and internal security responsibilities in Gaza, pending the completion of reform measures by the Palestinian Authority.

CAIRO, Jan 18 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government is working to maximize the added value of gold within the local market and transform Egypt from a raw gold exporter into an industrial hub. Madbouly made the remarks as he chaired on Sunday the first meeting of the Supreme Committee for Gold, formed by a presidential decree earlier this month. The prime minister said the government aims to increase gold discoveries while improving governance of the sector. The committee will develop a comprehensive strategy covering all stages of the gold value chain, including extraction, refining, manufacturing and trading, alongside relevant legislation and policies, Cabinet Spokesperson Mohamed al-Homosany said. The meeting reviewed plans to establish a national gold refinery that would meet international standards, serve neighboring countries, boost Egypt’s gold reserves, curb illegal trading and strengthen mining value chains, the spokesperson added.

Iraq’s government on Sunday said US forces had completed a “full withdrawal” from military facilities within the country’s federal territory, which excludes the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region where US troops remain. Iraq’s central government does not fully control the Kurdish region in northern Iraq as it’s an autonomous federal entity with its own government, parliament and security forces, recognized by the Iraqi constitution. The Iraqi ministry released a video Saturday showing senior Iraqi military commanders walking through empty halls and corridors inside Al-Asad Air Base. The US Department of Defense’s Central Command told CNN Sunday that “Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s earlier statement indicating the handover were factual,” without providing further details. They said they would surrender their weapons only once Iraq achieves full sovereignty, including the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.

The peace plan for the Gaza Strip has entered a new phase, bringing with it widespread debate about the future of the international system and the role of the UN. This coincides with the launch by the administration of US President Donald Trump of the “Board of Peace,” an international mechanism to oversee the transitional phase in the Strip. While the second phase of the plan has been met with regional and international approval, there are also warnings against the creation of a parallel international entity, especially as the escalation of violence continues in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. This has drawn criticism within Western diplomatic circles, which view the move as an attempt to create an international entity parallel to or competing with the UN. Jordanian King Abdullah II announced that he had received a formal invitation from the US President to join the “Board of Peace” for Gaza.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, on Sunday demanded that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) pay compensation for the damage it has caused to Egypt and Sudan. During his participation in the Senate’s plenary session, the Minister added that no dam of the size of the Ethiopian dam has ever been built on the Nile River through unilateral action. The damage it has already incurred is the reduction of 38 billion cubic meters from Egypt’s share of 55 billion cubic meters, he explained. Sweilem revealed that the demand for water has risen to 88.5 billion cubic meters, while Egypt’s water share is 55.5 billion cubic meters. “We reuse 23.2 billion cubic meters annually to bridge the water gap, and treatment plants add 4.8 billion cubic meters,” he said, noting that the per capita share has decreased to 500 cubic meters, compared to the global average of 1,000 cubic meters per capita.

Egyptian TV host Ahmed Moussa said on Sunday that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday at the Davos Forum. During his program “On My Responsibility,” broadcast on Sada al-Balad TV channel, Moussa added that the Egyptian-American summit will discuss Gaza, particularly on maintaining the ceasefire. He continued that the summit will also address many other issues, including “the challenges of the Horn of Africa, the (Grand) Ethiopian (Renaissance) dam, global maritime traffic, the situation in Sudan, and other international matters.”Moussa added that the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, Minister Hassan Rashad, met with members of the Palestinian committee for managing Gaza, headed by Ali Shaath, along with 11 other members, to discuss resolving the Palestinian issue and assuming responsibility for the Gaza Strip. The committee will work to end the suffering of Palestinians and assume all duties and responsibilities in the Strip, he said, emphasizing the need to provide Gaza residents with supplies and humanitarian aid, and to open the crossings into the Gaza Strip.

The National Committee for the Management of Gaza (NCAG) officially commenced its mandate on Saturday as a transitional technocratic body responsible for the territory’s civil affairs and internal security following an inaugural meeting in the Egyptian capital. Shaath stated that the committee is a Palestinian entity created by Palestinians for Palestinians, with the formal support of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the Palestinian Authority, and various Palestinian factions. Education is overseen by Dr Jabr Al-Daour, while Dr Bashir Al-Rayyes and Dr Aed Yaghi manage the finance and health portfolios respectively. The committee expressed appreciation for the leadership of President Trump and acknowledged the essential roles of regional partners, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, whose mediation and support were described as pillars of regional stability. The body stated its intention to ensure long-term governance, sustainable growth, and self-rule across the entire Gaza Strip.

The Economic Concentration Review Committee at the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) has approved a series of significant mergers and acquisitions across multiple sectors. Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) will acquire 100% of the shares of John Wood Group. In the automotive sector, AIBL will acquire full ownership of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, while Daimler Truck AG is set to acquire between 26.7% and 44.3% of the voting rights in AIBL. In the energy sector, EDF Power Solutions has been granted control over the joint venture Compagnie Générale de Hydroélectricité de Volub, in partnership with Africa 50 – PD and Nia Volub. These approvals reflect ongoing consolidation and strategic investment activity across key industries, including energy, automotive, and engineering consulting, highlighting the growing interest of both international and regional investors in Egypt and its associated markets.

Granite Financial Holding, a digitally enabled asset management company, has received a fintech licence from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), paving the way for the immediate launch of its proprietary mobile application, the Granite Money Market Account (Granite MMA). The introduction of the Granite Money Market Account comes at a pivotal time for Egypt’s financial landscape. Through the mobile application, individuals can complete fully digital account opening and electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) procedures within minutes, without paperwork or branch visits. The Granite Money Market Account can also be linked to any Egyptian bank account, allowing smooth transfers in and out. “If you have excess cash that you want to keep liquid and accessible, the Granite Digital Money Market Account offers a safe, secure and easy-to-use solution,” he said.

El-Shimy emphasised that the ministry maintains a policy of full openness and readiness to partner with private enterprises, underlining the importance of government-private sector integration in developing national industry. He highlighted the promising investment opportunities in Egypt’s spinning, weaving, and textile sector, particularly amid ongoing modernisation efforts. The plan also includes implementing an ERP system to improve resource management, operational efficiency, governance, and transparency, alongside rehabilitating and upgrading older factories while preserving the historical legacy of Egypt’s textile industry. Private sector representatives welcomed the scale of the development, expressing strong interest in partnering with the ministry’s affiliated companies. They praised the investment opportunities created by the national project, highlighting its role in localising industry, creating jobs, and strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional hub for spinning, weaving, and ready-made garment manufacturing.

Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny held a regular meeting to review progress on the Central Business District (CBD) project in the New Administrative Capital, as well as the Downtown Towers and Lagoons project in New Alamein City. The district also includes five fully finished residential towers providing around 1,700 housing units, with a total area of 102,000 square metres and heights of between 152 and 200 metres. The minister also reviewed development progress at the Downtown Towers project in New Alamein City, including façade works, electromechanical installations, finishing works, infrastructure and landscaping. In addition, El-Sherbiny reviewed progress on the Downtown Lagoon Lakes project in New Alamein City, which is being developed between the Downtown towers. The project includes seven islands and 11 lagoons surrounded by a tourist promenade and is designed to match leading international developments.