Egypt: Economic and Political Outline

Economic Overview

Egypt launched an economic reforms program, including a large stimulus plan in 2008. Consequently, tariffs and taxes were lowered and simplified. The transparency of the national budget was reinforced and many privatizations were initiated. This new policy bore its fruits as growth reached a level of more than 5% in 2009 and 2010, especially thanks to the resumption of private and public consumption. The construction, communications, wholesale and retail sectors, catering and hospitality, as well as manufacturing contributed to the development of economic growth. However, the year 2010 was marked by an under-performance of the sectors which most strongly contribute to the country’s GDP, namely agriculture and mining. The IMF growth estimates for 2011 are between 5.5% and 5.8%, counting on the increase in consumption, recovery of foreign growth (tourism and the Suez Canal) and a resumption of investments.

Although the Egyptian economy has entered into a cycle of progressive growth, its level of growth remains insufficient to maintain employment and reduce the share of population living below the poverty of line (18%). In addition, the country faces a high rate of inflation (about 10%). Foreign accounts, weakened during the crisis by a decline in foreign exchange earnings and net capital flows, have recovered and the trade balance returned to surplus in 2010.

Main Sectors of Industry

Agriculture contributes around 13% of the GDP and employs about a third of the active population. The warm climate and the abundant Nile water allows for several annual harvests. The main crops are cereals, cotton, sugar cane and beets.

Egypts remains a country with little industry. With its diverse natural reserves (gold, minerals, iron, oil and gas), oil and gas-related activities and the secondary sector account for just over a third of the GDP. Egypt is the world’s sixth largest exporter of natural gas.

Finally, the tertiary sector represents around 50 % of the Egyptian GDP. It is largely dominated by revenues from telecommunications (which grew by 11% during the first quarter of 2010) and from tourism (the tourist industry brings about 11b in annual revenues. For example Cairo received 14m of visitors in 2010).

In spite of its economy’s diversification, the country still depends for a large part of its income on the Suez Canal (380m during the first quarter of 2010).

Source: World Bank - Last Available Data.

Sources of General Economic Information

Ministries

Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Trade and Industry 

Statistical Office

Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

Central Bank

Central Bank

Stock Exchange

Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange

Other Useful Resources

Website containing official information of the government

Main Online Newspapers

Al-Ahram Weekly
Cairo Times
The Daily News Egypt

Economic Portals

Zawya: website containing economic information on the Middle East.
Alibaba: Economic portal on the Middle East.

Political Outline

Type of State

Republic based on the constitution of 1971 revised in 2005. The state has a presidential system of government.

Executive Power

The president is the head of state. He is elected by universal suffrage for a 6-year term of office (no limit for extension). He appoints the Prime Minister who must be approved by a confidence vote in the parliament. The President also appoints the head of the Council of Ministers. He can dissolve the Assembly and rule by decree. He holds almost total power.

Legislative Power

The legislative power is bicameral. The Parliament is formed by the People's Assembly (the lower house) which has 454 members (of which 444 are elected by universal suffrage and 10 are nominated by the President for a 5-year term) and the Advisory Council (the upper house) which plays only an advisory role and which has 264 members (of which 176 are elected by universal suffrage and 88 appointed by the president for a 6-year term). The president can dissolve the People's Assembly only if he has the support of the people during a referendum.

Current Political Leaders

Vice-President: Vacant (constitution suspended since 13 February 2011)
Prime Minister: Kamal Ganzouri (since 24 November 2011)

Next Election Dates

People's Assembly: November-December 2015
Advisory Council: in 2013