The world s "most important" forum on financial inclusion kicked off in Egypt s Sharm El-Sheikh on Thursday, with a keynote address by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
The two-day 9th Global Policy Forum, organised by the International Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), brings together some 95 states and 119 international financial institutions.
During his address, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt s budget deficit stood at 9.5 percent during the fourth quarter of the 2016-2017 fiscal year, which ended in June, down from 11.5 percent during the same quarter last year.
During the conference, Egyptian representatives will discuss the country s experience with financial inclusion, especially with regard to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, state news agency MENA said.
AFI has said the forum is the "largest and most comprehensive event" it has ever held.
The gathering will introduce "unique financial inclusion initiatives undertaken by members in the Arab region," AFI said on its website.
An initiative on financial inclusion in the Arab world is expected to be inked.
The official forum was preceded by three days of AFI meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh, including AFI policy working groups meetings and the AFI annual general meeting.
Last year s forum was held in Nadi, Fiji.
