President Hosni Mubarak’s program of political and economic reform was the talk of the recent Egyptian presidential elections, and accelerated economic-reform plans were essential elements of the platforms of both of the key opposition groups. Egypt’s financial-sector reforms, especially the simplification of tariff and customs regimes, have improved the climate for foreign investment and led to an increase in economic growth.

There is broad recognition that delivering on the promises of economic reform is central to the political transformation of Egypt. But are things moving fast enough? Is the Egyptian government getting out of the business of state-run business—and is it doing it fast enough? Will the Mubarak government deliver on its promises of a political and economic transformation?
    
AEI will host Yousef Boutros-Ghali, the Egyptian minister of finance, and Mahmoud Mohieldin, the Egyptian minister of investment, for a luncheon foreign policy briefing on Egyptian economic and political reforms.