egypt
Name: Arab Republic of Egypt
Political Capital: Cairo (6.500.000 habitants, and 13.000.000 habitants distributed in the suburban area)
Major cities: Alexandria (3.585.000 habitants.); Giza (2.200.000 habitants.); Shubra el-Khema (710.000 habitants.); Port Said (400.000 habitants.)
Form of Government: Presidential Republic
Political situation: The Country is currently runned by a military committee until next elections held by September 2011
Territorial subdivision: Egypt is geographically divided in 28 Governorates and 133 Provinces: Daqahliyya; Mar Rosso; Buhayra; Fayyūm; Gharbiyya; Alessandria; Ismā‘īliyya; Giza; Aswan; Asyut; Damanhur; Beni Suef; Mansura; Damietta; Faiyum; Menufia; al-Minyā; Il Cairo; Qaliubia; Luxor; Wadi al Jadid; Sharkia; Suez; Assuan; Asyut; Banī Suwayf; Porto Said; Damietta; Sinai del Sud; Kafr el Sheikh; Matruh; Qina; Sinai del Nord; Sohag; Helwan; 6 ottobre.
Population: 80.000.000 habitants.
Urbanization rate (in%): 49 %
Population density: 70 hab/km²
Ethnic groups: Arabs (85%); Bedouins, Nubians, Berbers and others (15%)
Official religions: Samnite Muslim (90%); Copt Catholics (7%); others (3 %)
Official language: Arab (official), Egyptian Arab dialect, English and French
Territory surface: 1.001.450 Km² of which: Land: 995.450 km²; Water: 6.000 km²; Coasts: 2.450 km
Land: Egyptian land is mainly constituted by desert (95%); it is lenghtwise crossed by the river Nile. The Nile valley and Delta are the only green corridors of the Country
Neighbouring countries: Libya - WEST; Sudan - SOUTH; Israel and Palestina - NORD EST; Mediterranean Sea - NORD; Red Sea - EAST
Climate: Mediterranean – arid. Low and irregular rainfalls. Summer temperatures fluctuate between 32° and 49°
Festivities and work hours: Work week begins on Sunday until Thursday included. All public bureaus are, generally, closed on afternoons. Ramadam festivity is respected as well as the following celebrations: Copt Christmas (7th of January); Birth of the Prophet (15th of february); Copt and catholic Easter (24th of April); Sham El-NessimSinai Evacuation Day (25th of April); labour day 1 maggio; Small Bairam - Eid El-Fetr (30th and 31st of August) ; Military’s Day (6th of October); Corban Bairam - Eid El-Adha (6th and 7th of November); Christmas (25th of December)
Passport and Visa: Visa is required to enter the Country. For a stay up to 6 months it can be issued directly at the Airport at the arrival for a 15 US$ fee. Passport will have to have a 6 months validity. It is possibile to use a national ID with a validità of 3 months to access to the Red Sea coastal tourist areas
Local currency: Egyptian pound/ Egyptian Lira EGP
Currency exchange rate: 1 € equals about 8,6779 EGP
Nominal GDP: 1.039 Billion €
GDP growth rate: 6%
Inflation: 12,80%
Unemployment: 10%; between15 and 29 years of age, unemployment rate raises to 25% (2010)
Transport system: In Egypt over 90 airports are active of which two are the main international hubs: The International Airoport of Cairo and the Airport of Alexandria El Nohza. Air links between Cairo and Rome run on a daily basis while links with Alexandria and main tourist areas are increasing. National road network is in strong development and currently links all major CBDs and towns. Railway links are in good shape. Roads: 64.000 km; Railways: 8.600 km; Internal navigable canals and rivers: 3.100 km
Economy: Egyptian economy principally relies on agricolture, oil exports and tourism. The Government is now interested in developing a new energy market based on oil, gas, hydro power and renewable energies
Primary Sector: Cultures are divided accordingly to seasons: winter cultures include: wheat and legumes; summer cultures include: cotton, sugar cane, grane, rice, peanuts, sesame and daters cultivated in the oasis of Siwa and Bahariyah. Fall cultures include: Corn and pearled millet. Cotton is the most important product since its introduction in 1821
Secondary sector: Main oil and gas resources are found in the Western Desert and in Sinai. energy cluster is highly developed and important are steel, chemical, mechanic and textile industries. Egypt also benefits from iron, chrome, manganese and tin
Tertiary sector: Navigation services are very active along the Nile river. The Suez Canal represents an important link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Road and railway links are well developed but only along the Nile valley and delta. Tourism represents the main support to the tertiary sector
Renewable energies: The country is expanding its renewable energies sector and is now concentrating to reach 20% of clean energy production by 2020
Investment incentives: The Egyptian Government introduced law 13/2004 which promotes incentives and guarantees to investments from smal and micro enterprises. Further, Egypt has signed a bilateral agreement (law 201/1994) with Italy aimed at supporting promotion and protection of investments
