Core Viewpoint - The Central Bank of Egypt has significantly cut interest rates by 200 basis points, marking the third rate cut of the year, driven by declining inflation and improving employment conditions [1][3]. Monetary Policy - The overnight deposit rate has been reduced from 24.00% to 22.00%, and the overnight lending rate from 25.00% to 23.00% [3]. - The Central Bank aims to anchor inflation expectations and maintain a downward trajectory of inflation through this rate cut [3]. - The unemployment rate decreased from 6.3% in Q1 2025 to 6.1% in Q2 2025, indicating a positive trend in the job market [3]. Inflation Outlook - The Central Bank forecasts that the average inflation rate for 2025 will be between 14% and 15%, with a target of 7% by Q4 2026 and 5% by Q4 2028 [3][5]. - Despite the positive outlook, inflation remains above the target level, indicating ongoing challenges [5]. Economic Growth - Egypt's economy is showing signs of recovery, with a real GDP growth rate of 5.4% in Q2 2025, compared to 2.4% in the previous fiscal year [4]. - The non-oil manufacturing sector grew by 16.03%, contributing 1.9 percentage points to GDP growth [7]. - The tourism sector, particularly restaurants and hotels, experienced a growth of 23% [7]. - Exports of goods and services surged by 54.4% in Q2, significantly outpacing the 18.7% increase in imports, contributing approximately 2.7 percentage points to GDP growth [7]. Sectoral Performance - The communication and information technology sector grew by 14.7% [7]. - However, the Suez Canal's transport volume has decreased due to geopolitical tensions, leading to a 23.1% decline in related revenues [7]. - The oil and gas sector is facing challenges but is expected to recover with new development projects [7].