Egypt military seen as expanding economic share

As Egypt braces for austerity reforms, the military has expanded its economic role, at times helping President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi assuage the impact of rising prices on the country's poor. For decades, the military - which produced all but one president since 1952 - has played a key though opaque economic role, producing everything from washing machines to pasta, alongside building roads and operating gas stations.

Since the arrival of Sisi, a former army chief who toppled his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi in 2013, its involvement has been more visible amid austerity measures, a dollar shortage and rising prices.

In return for a $12-billion International Monetary Fund loan, Egypt is set to devalue the pound, after having already imposed a new Value Added Tax.

In August, the military intervened to resolve a baby formula shortage that caused prices to spike and led to protests, promising to import it and sell it at half the price.

It accused companies that imported the formula of hoarding it to raise prices.

The same month, the ministry for military production signed an agreement with the health ministry for the country's first plant to produce cancer medication.

Meanwhile, the military has played a part in large scale projects that have been touted as part of the country's economic recovery plan, such as the extension of the Suez Canal.

"The military is seeking to expand its role in new economic sectors," said Amr Adly, a professor of economics at the American University of Cairo.