Lebanon's budget deficit expanded by 42% y/y to LBP 2.446tn (USD 1.6bn) in the first five months of 2013 as a mild increase in revenue was offset by higher spending growth, the Daily Star reported on Sept 5 citing data from the finance ministry. The latter has not released an official breakdown yet.
Total proceeds, including tax and non-tax income, increased 2.3% y/y to LBP 6.313tn. Spending rose 11.0% to LBP 8.750tn in January-May. The budget reported a LBP 30bn primary surplus at end-May compared with a LBP 720bn surplus the year before.
Income tax proceeds reportedly climbed 22% y/y in January-May, helping offset a 3.6% drop in VAT revenue. Taxes from property transactions and inheritance fell 12% y/y over the period.
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced 18 new oil and gas discoveries across the New Delta, Eastern Desert, and Western Desert, marking one of the strongest exploration ... more
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources signed three agreements on September 14 – with UAE-based Dragon Oil, and French independent Perenco Egypt and its US peer Apache Egypt ... more
The Egyptian government plans to attract EGP 252.8bn ($5.2bn) in investments to the manufacturing sector for FY 2025/26, Economy Plus reported on September 3, citing the country’s Minister of ... more