Middle East & Central Asia News
LAST UPDATE: June 13, 2025
Vahe Hovhannisyan, IMF mission head discuss Armenia’s macroeconomic framework
Armenia’s Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan held constructive discussions with IMF mission chief Iva Petrova as part of a Stand‑By Arrangement review. They reviewed fiscal policy, financial-sector reforms, and the importance of the program in supporting macroeconomic stability and structural transformation
Insight
The positive tone underscores solid progress in Armenia’s reform path—fiscal consolidation and financial-sector resilience. Continued IMF cooperation can reinforce confidence, attracting investment and stabilizing growth in a sensitive regional environment.
Egypt agrees to buy up to 160 LNG cargoes through 2026, sources say
Egypt has secured deals with Aramco, Shell, Vitol, Trafigura, BGN, SOCAR, and PetroChina to import 150–160 LNG cargoes by end-2026—its largest-ever program, costing over $8 billion. This aims to remedy domestic supply shortfalls amid rolling blackouts (reuters.com)
Insight
The move highlights Egypt’s urgent need for energy resilience, though the steep $8 billion cost may deepen fiscal strain, potentially prompting IMF support or subsidy reforms.
