Egypt's Supreme Investment Council on Tuesday approved 17 measures including an extended suspension of 10% capital gains tax on shares for three years, which the government had imposed on July 2017, but was frozen for two years in August 2015. It remains unclear whether the suspension starts now or from the intended 2017-end. Measures also include tax exemptions for farmers and manufacturers who produce strategic crops or goods that Egypt imports or exports. They also include introducing temporary manufacturing licences, while factories complete paperwork, and forcing government agencies to grant licences or settle disputes faster. “The Supreme Investment Council aims to review the state's investment policies, ... remove all obstacles facing investors, and ... improve the investment climate," the statement said. (Reuters)