ISD CODE: + 20
Time Zone: GMT + 2
Area: 1 001 450 sq. kms. (386 990 sq. mi.)
Capital: Cairo
Main cities: Giza, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Damietta
Population: 61.5 million
Languages: Arabic (official), Coptic
General information: The country is flat and arid, with the exception of a fertile Nile Delta region, which has been intensely cultivated for thousands of years. Desert area temperatures can reach 45 degrees.
Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, and the Red Sea, and Sudan and Libya on the West and South.
Over 3,000,000 tourists underpin the economy, spending over $US3.5 billion in 1998. Oil and gas revenues, and Suez Canal tolls also contribute substantially to the national income.
The massive Aswan dam provides hydro-electric power, with a generating capacity of 10 billion kwh, as well as regulating water supplies.
Exports: Cotton and textiles, petroleum, fruit and vegetables.
Government Contacts:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Fax: + 20 2 743 840
Ministry of Industry & Mineral Resources:
Fax: +20 2 355 5025
