Delegates from more than 40 countries attending the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s African caucus gather again today in Sharm El Sheikh, the Investment Ministry says. Today is the final day of the two-day session.

Egyptian economic growth outstrips estimate for North Africa as a whole: Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, IMF Resident Representative for Egypt Reza Bakir noted that the reforms have pushed Egypt’s GDP growth far ahead of the projected average for North Africa. The IMF sees Egypt’s GDP growing at a 5.5% clip by the end of FY2018-19, while North Africa is projected to grow by 4.3% during the same period. Egypt is also on track to grow faster than Sub-Saharan Africa, where GDP growth for 2018 is expected to come in at 3.5%, growing marginally to 3.75% in 2019, Bakir told Al Shorouk.

Also in Sharm El Sheikh this week, the CBE is hosting the annual meeting of the Association of African Central Banks from 5- 9 August.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is in Washington today,kicking off a two-day visit that will see him talk over issues with figures including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to a ministry statement. Shoukry is also set to meet with White House National Security Advisor John Bolton to discuss the US’ aid program to Egypt, including economic, development and military assistance. Shoukry is also expected to meet with US business leaders while in DC.

Meanwhile: EgyptAir is gearing up to launch direct flights between Cairo and Washington, DC, EgyptAir Airlines Chairman and Managing Director Sherif Ezzat told reporters yesterday, Al Mal reports. Ezzat said the service would start “in the coming period.” The national flag carrier is also expecting to launch a Cairo-Shanghai route in four months’ time once it receives the necessary approvals from China, according to Ezzat.

[Redacted] has hit the fan in Venezuela: Six people have been arrested after two drones laden with explosives were launched at a rally at which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was speaking on Saturday, Reuters reports.

The transition at Goldman Sachs will include the appointment of James Esposito as co-head of its securities division, sources familiar with the matter tell the FT. The appointment, which is expected to be announced today, was the first since the designation of David Solomon as the next CEO of the bank.

It’s going to be hot this week,with temperatures across the country set to rise starting today, according to the Meteorological Authority, which sees Cairo reaching highs of 36-37°C. The mercury will break north of 40°C on Friday in the capital city, according to our favorite weather app. Upper Egypt is expected to see highs of up to 43°C, with milder temperatures expected across the North Coast. A week in Sahel might just be the ticket, folks.

CORRECTION- Cairo Development and Investment minority shareholders have until 8 August to sell their stakes at EGP 4.20 / share before the company completes its voluntary delisting from the EGX. We completely goofed yesterday in translating the name of the company in question — it is not Cairo Investment and Real Estate Development (CIRA), the high-profile education outfit that EFG Hermes is taking public with law firm Al Tamimi & Co. acting as legal counsel. We have corrected the story on our website. As always, we work very hard to ensure Enterprise is error-free — please reach out to us anytime on editorial@enterprise.press if you think we’ve made a mistake. If we have, we’ll set it right.