Foreign Reserves Shrink to $13.6bn

Foreign reserves have declined to $13.6 billion, sufficient for covering only three months of imports, said Planning and International Cooperation Minister Ashraf el-Arabi. The figure is very disturbing and worrying, Arabi said in statements on 21/02/2013. Arabi called for societal unity on the national economic reform program and the government's talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 loan to get out of this crisis. Foreign reserves were planned to reach $19 billion in June 2013 but the stumbling talks with the IMF due to the political situation will not make this figure possible, Minister Arabi said.