Egypt is a strong country with lots of potential, Masood Ahmed, who is retiring in October as the IMF’s Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, told Asharq Al Awsat in an interview. Egypt has to face urgent problems including anaemic growth rates, a large budget deficit, a weaker external position, and high unemployment, he says. The IMF welcomes Egypt’s economic reform programme, which aims to tackle economic imbalances and put Egypt on a path of economic growth. The economic programme will tackle the country’s FX challenges, channel spending towards improving the infrastructure network, and support working women, he added. Ahmed also talked about the IMF engagements regionally.