The Egyptian government is targeting a budget deficit of 9.8 per cent for 2016-2017 and 9 per cent for the following year, the planning minister said in a news conference on Saturday.

Ashraf Al Araby also said his government is targeting less than 4.5 per cent growth in the second half of the fiscal year, 5.3 per cent growth in 2016-2017 and 6 per cent in 2017-2018.-Reuters