RIYADH: Remittances from Egyptians working abroad rose by more than 77 percent in the first 10 months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, reaching a record $29.4 billion.

Between January and April alone, remittance inflows rose 72.3 percent year on year to $12.4 billion, official data from Egypt’s central bank showed.

The sharp increase underscores growing confidence among expatriates in the country’s financial system and reflects a broader improvement in Egypt’s external financial position.

The Central Bank of Egypt attributed the surge to recent measures aimed at stabilizing the exchange rate and encouraging the use of formal remittance channels.

The impact of these policies is also evident in the rise of Egypt’s net international reserves, which climbed to $48.5 billion at the end of May, up from $47.8 billion in March.

In a statement, the central bank noted: “On a monthly basis, remittances in April 2025 increased by 39 percent year on year, reaching approximately $3 billion, compared to $2.2 billion in the same month last year.”

The rebound in remittance flows comes amid broader economic reforms pursued under an International Monetary Fund-backed stabilization program. These reforms have bolstered Egypt’s foreign currency position and helped attract more international capital.

In May, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that Egypt recorded real gross domestic product growth of 3.9 percent during the first half of the fiscal year. Private sector investment surged by 80 percent, while foreign direct investment rose by around 17 percent.

Inflation, however, remains a key challenge. The annual urban headline inflation rate accelerated to 16.8 percent in May, up from 13.9 percent in April, driven largely by continued pressure on non-food prices.

These inflation trends come as Egypt’s broader economic landscape continues to be shaped by both domestic and global pressures. The government is navigating a delicate recovery amid external shocks, ongoing structural reforms, and efforts to manage public debt.  

In February, Moody’s affirmed Egypt’s “Caa1” long-term foreign and local currency ratings with a positive outlook, citing improved debt servicing capacity, higher reserves, and falling borrowing costs.  

The ratings agency noted that recent currency devaluation and flotation helped boost foreign exchange reserves and reduce debt vulnerabilities. While a “Caa1” rating denotes high credit risk, the positive outlook reflects the government’s efforts to control inflation and stabilize interest rates. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 prioritizes enhancing the performance of government bodies and institutions across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, recognizing their vital role in driving economic growth, according to the Kingdom’s economy minister. 

Speaking at the 7th edition of the King Abdulaziz Quality Award, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, who also chairs the award’s supervisory committee, said the initiative boosts competitiveness and strengthens the investment climate.

It also drives economic complexity and broadens the reach and quality of services both locally and globally — ultimately generating high-value jobs for the Saudi population, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

This aligns with the Kingdom’s progress in the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development, which ranked Saudi Arabia 16th out of 67 of the world’s most competitive countries. The business efficiency axis, in particular, advanced from 13th to 12th place. 

The overall ranking marked a one-position improvement for the Kingdom, driven by gains in business legislation and infrastructure, placing the Kingdom 4th among G20 countries. 

“Today, we celebrate national institutions that have proven that institutional excellence is not a slogan, but rather a strategic choice and a consistent management approach,” Alibrahim said in his remarks during the event.

He added: “The King Abdulaziz Quality Award is not just an occasion for recognition, but rather an ongoing journey to create models, stimulate performance, and raise the ceiling of institutional ambition.” 

Alibrahim highlighted the role of the Saudi National Model for Institutional Excellence, which he described as a practical tool for enhancing capabilities, improving performance, and maximizing institutional impact. 

The model is a framework that promotes organizational excellence across key sectors, using the King Abdulaziz Quality Award as a benchmark. 

It focuses on leadership, strategic planning, and measurable outcomes in areas like academic quality and stakeholder satisfaction, guided by scientific methods and national standards.

Prince Mohammed bin Turki bin Abdullah, secretary-general of the King Abdulaziz Quality Award, said the initiative serves as a national platform to promote positive competition and consolidates the principles of governance. 

A total of 63 organizations were recognized across gold, silver, and bronze categories for their application of high standards in quality, governance, and innovation. 

The gold-level government winners included the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, and the General Organization for Social Insurance. Other winners included the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance. 

Thirty-four entities were awarded at the bronze level following a comprehensive evaluation process that measured performance, efficiency, and commitment to continuous improvement. 

Saudi Arabia’s quality award program mirrors similar efforts in more than 90 countries and reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to embed institutional excellence into its economic model. 

The King Abdulaziz Quality Award is positioned as the national benchmark for organizational performance, aiming to drive sustained development across key sectors.