France outclasses the UK by not advancing its own agenda in approving USD 12 bn IMF bailout for Egypt: France did not try to impose any caveats or insert conditions when its board members at the IMF approved the USD 12 bn loan to Egypt, said France’s ambassador to Egypt André Parant at the French Investment Conference organised by Ahram Hebdo. Last week, the UK embassy had issued a (poorly) veiled message that its approval of the loan came with a condition that Egypt pay up arrears owed to its IOCs. Parant commended the Ismail government on the float of the EGP, a move that he said will encourage French investments, according to DNE. He singled out Total, Danone, and Orange’s 4G license acquisition to demonstrate French companies’ commitment to Egypt.