What we’re tracking this week: VAT and Italy relations hearing in the House; Shoukry in D.C.; 23 July Revolution holiday on Saturday.
Garhy to brief House on VAT: Finance Minister Amr El Garhy is expected to appear on Monday before the House Planning and Budget Committee to discuss the latest draft of the value-added tax legislation, according to a report we noted late last week.
House to probe relations with Italy: A House committee will discuss on Monday relations with Italy and the investigation into the killing of Italian grad student Giulio Regeni after Rome nixed the sale to Egypt of spare parts for F-16s. Representatives of the ministries of interior and foreign affairs as well as the General Intelligence Directorate and the Prosecutor General’s Office are due to appear.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is due in Washington on Thursday for a ministerial meeting of the anti-Daesh coalition.
Probably not a long weekend: Saturday is a statutory holiday marking the 1952 Revolution. Falling as it does on the private-sector weekend, it’s unlikely the Ismail administration will give a comp day on Sunday. While we’re not aware of anything yet scheduled, we’ll be keeping an eye out for a policy speech of some form from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in the second half of this week.
Our next holiday: Not until the week of 11 September, when we’re due to observe Eid Al-Adha. (That’s c. 8 weeks away, including this week, for those of you keeping track at home…)