(Last updated: 1 Apr 2011)

Current business situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Egypt. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Country facts

(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Economic climate

For the latest key economic indicators and statistics, please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet.

Political climate

The Egyptian constitution defines the country as an ‘Arab Republic with a democratic, socialist system’. The presidency is the strongest political institution and has the power to appoint and remove ministers and senior officials, including judges, governors, senior army officers and heads of religious institutions. Egypt has a bi-cameral parliament, dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party. Egypt is divided into 26 governorates.

Trade relations and statistics

Egypt is a member of several international organisations, such as the United Nations, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Arab League.

Egypt is also a member of several trade alliances as follows:

• The Free Trade Agreement with the European Union (EU). The EU is Egypt’s main trading partner, representing approximately 40 per cent of its total foreign trade. The agreement will grant Egypt’s manufactured goods duty free access to EU markets and will phase out custom duties on EU products coming into Egypt within 12 years.
• In January 1998, Egypt began implementing agreements reached with Arab League members in connection with the Arab Common Market treaty of the 1960’s. These agreements call for phasing out existing tariffs over a 10-year period.
• Egypt joined the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in June 1998, reducing tariffs with the COMESA partners by 90 per cent in 1999 and committed to eventual elimination of them entirely.
• Egypt has expressed its interest in joining the revitalised Arab Maghreb Union.

Please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet for key trade statistics.