|
Political
status
Egypt, which has been a republic since 1953, is an
Islamic state with a presidential regime.
The president is elected for a six year term of
office by referendum, having been proposed by the
People's Assembly, and he holds most of the
executive power.
He is assisted by a Prime Minister.
The present president is General Mohammed Hosni
Moubarak.
He has been in power since the 14th October
1981.
The Prime Minister is Mr Atef Ebeid since the 5th
October 1999.
Egypt
plays a major geo-political role in the Middle
East, due to the fact that it controls the Sinai
peninsula and the Suez Canal, which is the shortest
route between the Indian Ocean and the
Meditarranean, and is next to Israel.
The
official name of the country is Jumhuriyat
Misral-Arabiyah. The capital is Cairo.
The
country is divided into 26 administrative regions
:
Al Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al
Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al
Isma'iliyah,
Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al
Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As
Suways, Aswan, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id,
Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina,
Shamal Sina, Suhaj.
Internal
politics
The judiciary system is based on English civil law,
Islamic law and the Napoleonic code. Judiciary
decisions are revised by the Supreme Court and the
State Council, which check the validity of
administrative decisions.The voting age is 18,
voting is universal and obligatory.
Executive
power
The
Egyptian government is led by President Mohammed
Hosni Moubarak, sworn in office on 14th October
1981, 8 days after President Anwar Al Sadat was
assassinated.
The Cabinet is organized by the President.
Legislative
power
The People's Assembly (Majilis al Cha'b) is made up
of 454 members, 444 of whom are elected for five
years by general election, and 10 who are appointed
by the President for a five year term of
office.
30 seats are reserved for women. Half of the
representatives must be workers or farmers.
The Council (Majilis al-Shura) is made up of 264
members, two thirds of whom are elected and one
third appointed by the President.
Judiciary
power
Judiciary power is represented by the Supreme
Court.
Political
parties
National Democratic Party
New Wafd Party
Socialist Labour Party
National Progressive Party
Socialist Liberal Party
Democratic Unionist Party
Umma Party
Misr al Fatah Party
Democratic Nasserist Party
NB : A political party can only be
formed with the government's approval.
Historical
outline
A few historical dates :
1856 : Beginning of the building of the Suez
Canal
1948 : Conflicts with the new State of
Israel
1951 : Unilateral termination of the 1936
treaty with England.
Farouk is appointed to the thrones of Egypt and
Sudan
1952 : King Farouk is dethroned following a
revolution of young officers
1953 : General Neguib is appointed Head of
State by the 'free officers'
June 1953 : Egypt becomes an independent
Republic
1954 : Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser dissolves
the government and takes power
1956 : Nasser is elected President by
referendum.
The Suez Canal is nationalized.
1958-1961 : Egypt and Syria unite to form
the United Arab Republic
The Assouan Dam is built, financed by the USSR.
5-10th June 1967 : The Six Day War against
Israel.
1970 : Death of Nasser, President Sadat
takes power.
1971 : New attempt to unite Egypt, Libya and
Syria.
6-22nd Oct. 1973 : The Yom Kippour war
against Israel.
1974 : Infitah, Egypt sides with the western
powers
Nov. 1977 : President Sadat visits
Israel.
1978 : Start of peace negotiations with
Israel
6th Oct. 1981 : Assassination of President
Sadat, he is replaced by M. Moubarak
1982 : The Sinaï is given back to Egypt
by Israel.
6th Oct. 1987 : Re-election of President
Moubarak.
6th Dec. 1990 : Legislative elections won by
M. Moubarak.
1993 : Attacks against the authorities and
tourists.
26th June 1995 : An Islamist attack against
M. Moubarak.
Legislative elections, the President's party wins a
clear majority
Geographical
situation
Egypt is
situated on the north eastern edge of Africa
(Sinai), between Sudan (with 1273 kms of shared
borders), Israel (255 kms), Palestine (11 kms) and
Libya (1150 kms). The Red Sea is on the east and
the Mediterranean is on the north (2450 kms of
coastline).
The total surface area of the country is 1,001,440
square kms (1.8 times the size of
France).
The country is an
immense desert, cut down the middle by the Nile.
The Nile valley and delta, which are vastly
overcrowded (approx. 1200 inhabitants per square
km) only covers 5% of the territory.
The Nile measures 6671 kms and crosses 1500 kms of
Egyptian territory. It is navigable.
The Mediterranean coastline stretches for 1000 kms.
The Suez Canal links the longest river in the world
to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Vegetation grows on the lands bordering the Nile
and around the dams of Assiout, Assouan, Esna and
Zifta. The Assouan dam produces 10 billion kWh a
year but is a source of problems : there is no
longer enough silt in lower Egypt, bilharzia is
spreading and so are rodents.
In the Arabian desert there are the Etbai Mts,
which climb to an altitude of over 1500 m and up to
2000 m (2187m for Sheyb, 2641m the Jabal Karina).
There are numerous oasis (called oueds).
The capital is Cairo, with 8,920,000 inhabitants
and other main towns are Alexandria, Port Said and
Suez.
Economy
Economic
statistics
|
(in
percentage)
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
|
economic
growth
|
5.3
|
5.6
|
5
|
5.2
|
|
inflation
|
6.2
|
3.8
|
3.7
|
4.1
|
|
unemployment
|
10
|
10.8
|
-
|
-
|
|
short term
interest rate
|
9.84
|
9.36
|
9.20
|
-
|
|
public
balance/GDP
|
-0.9
|
-1.0
|
-1.8
|
-0.9
|
|
current
balance/GDP
|
0.7
|
-3.4
|
-4.4
|
-4.8
|
|
exports in
billions of dollars
|
4.9
|
5.1
|
4.6
|
4.9
|
|
imports in
billions of dollars
|
13.4
|
15.2
|
15.8
|
16.5
|
|
total
external debt in billions of
dollars
|
28.8
|
28.1
|
30.4
|
32.5
|
|
of which
the short term debt =
|
2.9
|
6.1
|
6.9
|
7.6
|
|
charges on
the debt/exports (%)
|
14.5
|
10
|
11.3
|
12.3
|
(source
OCDE)
General
information
|
GNP
1999
|
92.25
billion $
|
|
GNP per
capita
|
1480
dollars
|
|
Purchasing
power parity (PPP)
|
3500
dollars
|
|
GNP growth
1990-1997
|
+2,8% per
capita per annum
|
|
Households
with PPP +$3000 per annum
|
810,000 =
6%
|
|
Households
with PPP + $15000 per annum
|
1,760,000
= 13%
|
|
Households
with PPP -$5000 per annum
|
1,890,000
= 14%
|
|
Aid
1998
|
4.112
billion $
|
|
Foreign
investment 1998
|
1.076
billion $
|
|
Growth of
investment 1990-97
|
+2,5% per
annum
|
|
Tourism
revenue 1999
|
4.2
billion $
|
|
Country
risk
|
Moderately
high
|
The economy
took an important step forward in the 70s and 80s,
but in 1986 the drop in the world price of petrol
and the rise in the national debt obliged Egypt to
start negotiating for economic aid. Since 1991 the
government has made a lot of progress in its
administrative reforms (the liberalizing of the
exchange rates and interest rates) and its
programme of structural changes has contributed
towards improving conditions for economic growth.
Egypt's role as regional mediator puts it in a
privileged position, ensuring political and
financial support from the western
powers.
In 2001 the
economic growth has managed to stay at 5%, thanks
largely to the revival in the tourist industry. The
terrorist attacks have stopped and the tourist
revenue has increased (+50% in 1999), a necessary
income for the country.
The near-balance in public finances is one of the
most remarkable results of the structural changes
plan which has been managed with the help of the
IMF. If the debt ratios reflect a moderate increase
in the external debt, the financial situation
remains comfortable and the risk of non-payment
remains low. Unfortunantly the public sector still
predominates the economy and the weight of the
administration slows down reforms. (In the port of
Alexandria, the biggest port in the country, you
need no less than thirty signatures to get
merchandise through the customs.) Important
privatizations are expected in 2001, amongst which
the sale of 20% of the capital of Egypt
Telecom.
The country is
going through a cash shortage. To deal with it, the
president has asked the State to reimburse its
debts in order to inject 7.5 billion dollars into
the economy. Over one year the Egyptian reserves
have gone down by 25% and the public debt, which
stands at 4 billion dollars, equivalent to 40% of
the GDP, soaks up most of the cash. Egyptian banks
have hardly any funds left.
The country has
diversified sources of foreign currency : the
biggest one is money sent in by Egyptians abroad :
5 billion dollars, then comes tourism : 4.2
billion, thirdly the Suez Canal which brings in 1.9
billion and in fourth place petrol with 1.5
billion.
There is less and
less public investment, the private sector is
expected to deal with new infrastructural
investments in several sectors : energy, transport,
provision and treatment of water. The new Prime
Minister has announced tax reforms and the
continuation of privatizations, but the weight of
the administration discourages both private and
foreign investment. In spite of that, the private
sector participates to an equivalent of 70% of the
GDP.
The strong demographic growth is a source of worry
for President Moubarak : 1.2 million more people
every year add to the 62 million already
concentrated on the 5% strip of agricultural
territory around the Nile. Opposition movements
feed on the large social inequalities. With a GNP
per capita of 1480 dollars a year, Egypt is a
fairly poor country. The 3% yearly growth in the
labour force (600,00 people) makes it nearly
impossible to decrease the unemployment figure,
which is very high, at least 20%, although the
official figure is 10.8%.
The country imports
a lot of equipment and machines, foodstuff,
fertilizer, wooden articles and consumer goods. Its
main partners are the European Union (41.5%), the
United States (15.7%), Japan (5.4%), North Africa
and the Middle East (6.6%).
Agriculture
Only 4% of
the land is farmed, this is due to the fact that
the only land which is regularly watered is in the
Nile delta. 98% of the country's water is supplied
by the Assouan dam.
The country cannot
afford to import the foodstuffs necessary to feed
its constantly growing population.
Agriculture
- Fishing - Forestry
(millions
of tons, head, and m3 for wood)
|
Production
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
|
wheat
|
5.735
|
5.849
|
6.093
|
6.347
|
|
wood
|
2.723
|
2.776
|
2.829
|
-
|
|
sugar
cane
|
13.958
|
13.726
|
14.353
|
14.5
|
|
cotton
|
0.346
|
0.342
|
0.230
|
-
|
|
maize
|
5.165
|
5.147
|
5.430
|
5.500
|
|
oranges
|
1.613
|
1.522
|
1.442
|
1.525
|
|
potatoes
|
2.626
|
1.803
|
1.984
|
1.900
|
|
rice
|
4.895
|
5.480
|
4.450
|
5.816
|
|
cattle
|
3.107
|
3.117
|
3.217
|
3.15
|
|
sheep
|
4.220
|
4.260
|
4.352
|
4.40
|
|
pigs
|
0.027
|
0.028
|
0.029
|
0.029
|
|
fish
|
0.396
|
0.419
|
-
|
-
|
The agricultural sector employs 36% of the working
force and contributes 18% of the GNP. 18,000
hectares of new land are created every year, but
the urban growth covers 13,000 hectares a year. In
1962, to win over the support of the small-scale
farmers and to weaken the landed property owners,
Nasser imposed a low rental price on agricultural
lands and gave farmers' children a right of
possession which was nearly hereditary. This law
was revised in 1997, since then rents have tripled
and families occupying the land can be expelled
with only a year's notice : 87 people have died,
nearly 800 have been arrested and there are now
420,000 landless peasants. At present the
government doesn't have any available land to
allocate to them - it is counting on the Tochka
canal project (200 kms) to make 25% of the country
suitable for cultivation. It will mean the total
creation of a second delta in the southern part of
the country. Egypt will then have the most power
pump in the world : it will pump 25 million cubic
meters of water from Lake Nasser to irrigate
225,000 hectares.
The urgent
environmental questions are :
- the loss of arable land due to both urbanization
and the advancing desert
- the large amount of salt in the soil below the
Assouan dam
- the water pollution due to pesticides and
industrial waste
- the lack of drinking water in the areas away from
the Nile.
Industry
Natural
resources are petrol, natural gas, iron ore,
phosphates, manganese, lime, gypsum, talc,
asbestos, lead and zinc. The only minerals
exploited are phosphates and iron.
Industry contributes 25.9% of the GDP and mining
6.4%
The Nile delta
contains important natural gas reserves (the
government expects to make from 1.5 to 3 billion
dollars a year from them). There is a project being
studied to build a pipeline along the coast to
Turkey. The crossing of Israelian territory is
presently under discussion.
The first Egyptian natural liquid gas processing
factory could be set up in 2004 with English
financing.
On the other hand
the petrol industry seems to be declining :
production has gone down and the last interesting
discovery was 20 years ago. Petrol still represents
40% of the export revenue but the projects only
concern off-shore drilling.
The main industries are textiles, foodstuffs,
tourism, chemical products, building, cement and
metals.
The manufacturing industry, which is quite
diversified, suffers from a lack of infrastructures
for exportation, particularly agricultural products
with a high added value. Cairo airport, in the hope
of reducing losses has decided to install a cold
room for storage. Also, a container terminal is
being built near Port Said, which will have a
capacity of 700,000 units a year. At the moment
Egypt only exports 20% of its manufactured goods
but is looking for new outlets. At present 44% of
its exports go to the European Union but bilateral
agreements have been signed with Morocco, Tunisia
and Jordan and the main objective is to create an
Arabian Common Market in 2008.
The developement of
transportation means has also been encouraged : the
second part of the Cairo underground has just been
completed (2 million people use it every day), a
new 38 km highway connects the town centre to the
new town called the '6th October' which has been
installed in the middle of the desert.
Egypt has an important energy production, it has a
surplus of over 30 million TOE per year. However
the petrol crisis considerably affected its
exports. Industry is still 70% state-owned. The
electricity production was 57.656 billion kwh in
1997, with a per capita consumption of 611 kwh.
Other
sectors
The
privatization of foodstuff industries has resulted
in a rise of 15% in equipment importation for this
sector (250 million dollars).
Pasta production covers 80% of the demand. Meat and
fish processing is developing, although still in an
artisanal way, mostly around Cairo.
The developing
sectors are equipment and intermediary goods, the
material industry, the textile and foodstuff
sectors, and also cosmetics, home decoration and
furniture. The continual valuation in the exchange
rate has progressively worn away Egypt's price
competitiveness.
Tourism went down slightly in the last quarter of
2000 due to the regional tension caused by the
Palestine-Israel confrontation. For the moment it
is mainly Israeli tourists who have stopped
visiting Egypt (150,000 a year), but a continuation
of the violence could seriously affect the Nile
valley.
The government's
objectives are to increase the receptive capacities
and the infrastructures and to develope
transport.
Investments
The 1998 law
n°8 guarantees the transfer and the
repatriation of capital and offers national and
international investors tax rebates which
accumulate over the years, with the choice of
installation in the new industrial towns and those
of the high and medium Nile valley.
France is well
represented in Egypt : the underground in Cairo is
one of the most prestigious contracts that the
French won.
Some French companies have been set up in the north
east of Cairo, in "10th of Ramadan", a modern city
where tax rebates and land prices have attracted
investors.
Schneider has been producing and assembling
electrical apparatus and equipment there for 10
years, dealing particularly with medium and very
high tension machines. The factory employs 340
people, treats 600 tons of sheet metal and produces
1400 electrical boards per year.
Population
There are
62 million inhabitants in Egypt, the population
density is 62 inhabitants per square kilometer.
47% live in towns.
0-14 year olds : 35.89%
15-64% : 59.67%
65 years and over : 4.43%
Life expectancy is 66.54 years.
Level
of developement :
demographic growth 1997 - 2015 : +1.5%
energy consumption per capita TOE : 0.64
Population without drinking water : 13%
population without sanitary installations : 12%
n° of doctors per 1000 inhabitants : 1.8
telephone lines per 1000 inhabitants : 56
mobile phones per 1000 inhabitants : 1
private cars per 1000 inhabitants : 23
n° of computers per 1000 inhabitants : 7.3
adult illiteracy : 47%
secondary schooling/age group : 75.3%
graduates/age group : 23%
Ethnic
composition :
The various ethnic groups are made up of the
oriental Hamitic group, (Egyptians, Bedouins,
Berbers), which make up 99% of the population,
Greeks, Nubians, Armenians and Europeans (Italians
and French).
Language
The
official language is Arabic, but English and French
are spoken. 53% of the adult population can read
and write.
Religion
94.1% of
the population are Muslim, mostly Sunnites.
Christian Copts number about 7 million. Other
religions practiced are Roman Catholic, Orthodox
Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Protestants and
Jewish.
Weights,
measures
and voltages
The metric
system is used.
Electrical current : 220 V., plugs are the European
kind.
Money
The
currency is the Egyptian pound, made up of 100
piastres.
1FF = 0.5 £
(approx). 1 $ US = 3.4 £
1 euro = 3.5165 £
1 £ = 1.97 FF
Credit cards are
not very widely accepted. They can mainly be used
in international hotels and to obtain cash in a
bank. It is advisable to change money little by
little, in small notes.
The Egyptian pound
is linked to the dollar.
The bank rate is the official one, but foreign
currency is difficult to obtain, the central Bank
injects dollars onto the market if the situation
becomes extreme.
Transferring and repatriating capital is
authorized.
Main
towns
Cairo
:
Cairo is the capital of Egypt, a cultural centre
and the African town with the highest population.
It has also become the biggest town in the Middle
East. There is an amazing mixture of lifestyles in
Cairo and a never ending bustle. The minarets,
citadels and church bell towers dating back to the
first epochs of Christianity, dominate the city
where everything spreads out around them. In the
"Mother of the World", thus named by the
inhabitants of the town, the poorest part of the
population have taken refuge in the cemetery.
Thousands of people "squat" in the abandonned
tombs. The city of the dead has become the city of
the living to the point where the government has
had to recognize these 'residences' and install
electricity!
In town you have to visit the big popular Khan
el-Khalili souk. Hidden behind the El Azhar mosque
are the houses of Zeina Khatoum and Harawi, which
have been splendidly restored by the French
Compagnons. There is no way you can miss the
Egyptian museum . Built under the leadership of
Gaston Maspera and inaugurated in 1902, it
exhibits, amongst so many other marvels, the
treasure of Tutankhamon. It is impossible to leave
the "light of the Orient" without paying hommage to
the sole survivor of the 7 wonders of the world :
the pyramid of Cheops, flanked by its sisters
Khephren and Mykerinos and just behind the Sphinx,
whose head on a lion's body has been turned to the
rising sun for five thousand years.
Alexandria
:
It is Egypt's biggest port and an major
Mediterranean sea resort,called the "pearl of the
Mediterranean". Alexandria's 30 kms of golden sand
can be enjoyed in its pleasant climate all year
long.
Among the many monuments to see in the town are the
Al Montazah Palace which has been reconverted into
a hotel, the Quayet Bai Fortress and the Greek and
Roman museum which contains 40,000 articles, some
of them dating from the 3rd century BC.
Assouan
:
In ancient times, it was called Syena, from the
pink granite : Syenite. Assouan with its pleasant
climate is a perfect spot for a winter
stay.
Luxor
:
Luxor is the Arabic name of Thebes, the town of
a hundred doors.
Ancient capital of Egypt until 750 BC, Luxor
displays its grandiose vestiges of the past and the
unique beauty of its landscapes.
Climate
There is a
slight climatic variation between the north and the
south of Egypt with big temperature changes between
the day and the night in the desert regions.
There is a windy season in the spring, between
March and April. The Khamesin is a strong local
wind.
Winter is short,
and the temperatures mild. The sea temperature only
falls to about 17°C from January to March.
Summer is extremely hot, especially in the north,
the south is torrid, but the dryness of the air is
harder to stand than the actual heat. The sea
temperature during August goes over
26°.
Autumn and winter
are the most pleasant seasons for a visit.
Temperature
averages (max/min)
|
|
Alexandria
|
Cairo
|
|
J
|
18/9
|
19/9
|
|
F
|
19/9
|
21/9
|
|
M
|
21/11
|
24/11
|
|
A
|
24/13
|
28/14
|
|
M
|
27/16
|
33/18
|
|
J
|
28/20
|
35/20
|
|
J
|
30/23
|
35/22
|
|
A
|
31/23
|
35/22
|
|
S
|
29/21
|
32/20
|
|
O
|
28/18
|
30/18
|
|
N
|
24/15
|
26/14
|
|
D
|
20/11
|
21/10
|
Sea
temperatures
(monthly
average)
|
|
Mediterranean
|
Red
Sea
|
|
J
|
17
|
19
|
|
F
|
16
|
20
|
|
M
|
17
|
21
|
|
A
|
18
|
23
|
|
M
|
21
|
25
|
|
J
|
23
|
26
|
|
J
|
25
|
27
|
|
A
|
26
|
27
|
|
S
|
26
|
25
|
|
O
|
24
|
23
|
|
N
|
22
|
21
|
|
D
|
19
|
20
|
Insects
Mosquitoes
(during the summer), serpents and scorpions (in the
desert during the summer), parasites in the Nile
and the canals.
Working
in the country
There are
36 million people in the country's labour
force.
36% of them are employed in the government, public
works companies and the armed forces, 34% work in
agriculture and the private sector and factories
employ 20%
Some 2,500,000 Egyptians are expatriated (mainly in
Saudi Arabia and in other Arab states in the Gulf),
and the country lacks qualified personnel.
The language :
It is advisable to take Arab (or at least English)
lessons or improve your level. The possibility of
finding a good job will depend on how well you
speak the language.
There are several language institutes in France
which can quickly bring you up to a decent
level.
Formalities to
be completed if you are working for a French
company :
If your employer is a French or international
company you don't have to worry about
formalities.
Usually the administrative services deal with all
the formalities concerning the expatriate
staff.
Unless you are the only representative of your
company in the country (sales representative, or in
charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you
will have to deal with the formalities
yourself.
Preparing for
your departure and looking for a job :
You can start searching for information by writing
to French associations established in the country,
economic expansion services, commercial services of
foreign banks in France and French banks
abroad.
The French
consulate usually has a service dealing with jobs
and training, student grants and reinsertion in
France, and they can put you in touch with local
enterprises who are willing to accept French
personnel.
(See also in
the Practical Guide for the Expatriate).
The French Chamber of Commerce also offers
information about the job market, the most dynamic
sectors of the economy, and edits a bulletin for
French companies and local members.
You could publish a job application in this
bulletin.
The Trade
Commission in Cairo, or the CFCE in Paris can
furnish you with a list of French companies
established in Egypt.
Documents about the
country are usually available in the cultural
service of the Egyptian Embassy in
Paris.
You can however
prepare your trip in a more precise manner by
making a personal appointment with the
Franco-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in order to
complete your information and get professional
advice.
While you are
hunting for information you could contact companies
directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy
proposing your services.
The international
departments of the Chambers of Commerce and
Industry often have information about the country
available. Directories and useful dossiers from the
country can be helpful in getting information on
sectors of activity and the local economic life.
Where to find
job offers :
In the French press :
Le Monde, Le France Soir, Figaro, Moniteur du
Bâtiment, ... for French companies sending
people abroad.
In the local press
:
Al Ahram, Akhbar Al-Yom, Le Journal d’Egypte,
Al-Mussawar, etc...
In the
international press, in nearly all the bigger
dailies there exists a page or a selection of job
offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature,
Coriere della Sera, The Geneva Tribunal
..)
Leading recruitment
bureaus in Europe, and interim companies sometimes
offer international jobs.
There are several
data banks specializing in job offers abroad on
Internet which are easily accessible.
Writing your CV and covering letter
:
Your dossier is a
determining element towards being recruited, it is
the first step towards obtaining an
interview.
The CV should be
very clear, typewritten, detailled, preferably
written in the language of the country and it
should be accompanied by a handwritten covering
letter.
Certain
countries do not accord much importance to
handwriting, but it is advisable to write the
letter by hand whichever country it is addressed
to.
If the company is
French or the subsidiary of a French company, the
CV and the covering letter should still be written
in the language of the country.
Don't forget to
attach a recent photo, preferably one where you are
smiling.
Your CV should
be detailled, and have the addresses and phone
numbers of ex-employers on it so that the company
can easily verify the main points of your
candidacy.
This can save you from sending a pile of
photocopies and documents with it. You can always
present these documents later during an interview
if necessary.
If you are thinking
of sending a false CV, you should know that a study
from the Florian Mantione Institute shows that 45%
of the employers check up on CVs, that 34% of the
candidates are eliminated during this verification
and that 60% of the verifications are made with the
previous employer.
Whatever your reasons for 'adapting' your CV to
suit the ad, be warned that it won't help you
during the interview and could even cause you
prejudice.
The questions to
ask yourself before an expatriation :
What exactly is the
job?
What is the length of the contract?
Is it for the whole family or with bachelor
conditions?
What kind of life will you have locally?
Have you thought about when you get back, how you
will manage financially to fit in again?
Do you have the necessaries qualities to be an
expatriate?
Qualities you
need to succeed :
emotional stability (so you can react quickly
in any situation)
autonomy (you can make decisions on your own in any
circumstance)
being mobile and being available for your job,
being able to relocate quickly
being good at meeting people (don't forget that the
expatriate is also an ambassador for his country
whether in his professional or his social life.
being adaptable (you can easily adapt to different
cultures, climates and life styles. )
being able to accept and understand different
cultures and cultural differences
tolerance and respect of other people's way of life
and way of living should be a natural part of your
character.
Your family and
recruiting :
Your partner should have the same ambitions as
you. It is often an important factor in choosing an
expatriate.
In fact some recruitment bureaus or big firms when
they are recruiting, specially for long term
projects, insist on having an interview with the
wife to check that there are no problems in the
couple which could get worse abroad and maybe
disturb the mission.
Companies often propose that the whole family goes
together so that a good family balance is
kept.
During the
recruiting :
Punctuality and precision are appreciated
everywhere. Be on time for your appointments.
Be well dressed for your interview, whatever kind
of job you are trying for. Your appearance will
weigh with the interviewer.
First interviews are often very short but can last
several hours if your candidacy is interesting,
depending on the post offered, and if you have to
do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or
aptitude tests.
Be careful not to appear pretentious about your
know-how and don't exaggerate your professional
competence.
Don't forget that nowadays the job market is a
chronic problem nearly all over the world, so take
an interview appointment seriously, jobs are not
easy to come by.
Emphasize your real competence, your ease of
adaption, your mobility, your ability to work in a
team, your readiness to pool your
experience.
The company and
the expatriate :
A lot of countries abroad like to have, and to
show that they have, expatriates on their
staff.
International personnel often bring in experience
and knowledge which can be very advantageous for a
company.
Salaries -
Salary requirements :
If the candidate doesn't know the prospective
country, it isn't always easy to negotiate a
salary, especially if the amount has already been
mentionned on the ad.
However, there is nothing to stop you from showing
your previous salary and from discussing the salary
offered. The recruiting agent or the employer may
appreciate knowing what for you is the minimum.
It is often difficult to compare salaries with
European ones.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not
always similar to the one you know in Europe and
sometimes if the salary is much higher you will
find that the cost of living is also.
This is one of the reasons, and there are several,
including social security conditions, why it is
better to go abroad with a European company.
French companies sending people overseas budget for
differences in the cost of living.
They can reassure the expatriate that his
purchasing power will at least be the same as in
France.
The 'basic French salary' can be paid either in
France or abroad, it is usually a choice, and an
allowance is paid for living expenses
(accomodation, food,...)
This compensation is based on the cost of living in
the country.
Taxes
(see the page in the expatriate guide)
If you are employed locally you will have to pay
taxes in the country.
If you have an international contract your salary
can be negotiated free of taxes.
In some countries income tax is deducted at source
by the company.
Accomodation - company car - other fringe
benefits :
It is nearly impossible to negotiate for a company
house if you are employed locally. Getting a car
depends on your job and your level in the
company.
In a local company it will be very difficult to
negotiate a paid return ticket to France every
year.
There again, if you are an expatriate working for a
French company you will get fringe benefits, a
house, car, travel allowance, return flights to
France ...
Usually international contracts give 15 days leave
in France every 3 months.
Working
conditions :
These are the local ones with all the attenuating
advantages and disadvantages if you are working for
a local company.
The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant
and has to deal himself with the local
formalities.
On the administrative side the expatriate does not
have to worry about the formalities concerning the
police, customs, immigration, income tax, visa or
consular declaration.
French or European companies abroad always have an
administrative department which completes all the
formalities for its personnel and deals with any
problems which could arise.
Foreign companies remain subject to the laws of the
country.
Formalities
Your
passport must be valid for at least 6 months after
the date of your return. You need a visa, you can
get it either at the Egyptian consulate in Paris
(25 euros in cash, 2 photos) or at the airport in
Cairo.
You can renew your visa in the main towns in the
central police stations or at the Ministry of the
Interior in Cairo. (an identity photo + 12 Egyptian
pounds).
Health
No vaccine
is obligatory, but we recommend that you get
vaccinated against hepatitis B and follow an
anti-malaria treatment. Nivaquine still works in
Egypt.
Avoid drinking tap water and getting sun stroke.
Don't bathe in the Nile, there is bilharzia.
Transport
International
transport :
Plane:
Egyptair, Air
France, TWA do regular flights from Paris and
Marseilles.
The distance Paris - Cairo is 3210 kms.
The flight last about 4h 30mn.
Air
France
:
2 Midan Talaat Harb
Tel (2) 743 300
Maritime
transport :
It is possible to get to Egypt by sea with the
'Adriatica' company from either Italy or
Greece.
Boats go to Alexandria from Italy, with stopovers
in Piraeus and Heraklion, it takes 4
days.
Internal
transport
:
Plane
:
I hour flight
between Cairo and Assouan (899 kms).
Railways
:
The network stretches over 4895 kms.
The main lines are : the line down the Nile valley
(Cairo - Assouan, 4 trains a day), the Canal line
(Cairo - Port Said), the Delta line (Cairo -
Alexandria), the Mediterranean line
(Alexandria-Mersa-Matrouh). There are three
classes.
Maritime
transport :
Internal waterways total 3500 kms, counting the
Nile, Lake Nasser, the Alexandria-Cairo passage and
several smaller canals in the delta. The Suez Canal
is 193 kms long.
There are 420 ships
in the navy.
The three main ports are Alexandria, Port Said and
Port Suez.
The other ports are Al Ghurdaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur
Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh.
River cruises : 200 boats with from 20 to 105
cabins, some are extremely luxurious.
Getting
around in Cairo :
There is an
underground which is very useful.
Taxi fares are divided by the number of passengers.
You can rent a taxi for the day (approx 100 FF for
2 people).
There is a good bus service and between the towns,
the train is very cheap, but the service on the
whole is very slow.
Time
differences
In winter, GMT + 1
hour. In summer the time is the same as in
France
Telecommunications
The bigger towns
(Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia Suez and
Tanta) are connected by coaxial cables and relay
micro wave stations.
Internationally the
system works with 2 satellites, INTELSAT and
ARABSAT and a land station INMARSAT, there are 5
underwater coaxial cables with micro wave stations
to Libya, Israel, Jordan and Sudan.
To phone Egypt from France : Dial 00 20 + the town
code + the local number (6 figures)
Cairo : 2, Assouan : 97
To phone France
from Egypt : dial 00 33 + the 9 numbers of your
correspondent
Press
(See addresses in the Useful Addresses column)
:
« Al Ahram
», a daily, 600,000 copies
« Akhabar Al-Yom », a daily
« Le Journal d’Egypte », a daily
10,000 copies
« Al-Mussawar ».
Airports
The country
has 91 airports, of which 3 are international :
Cairo, Alexandria and Assouan. 11 airports have
more than 3 kms of tarmac landing strips.
The national airline company is Egyptair.
In Cairo the airport is Heliopolis, which is 23 kms
from the centre.
The Assouan airport is 22 kms to the south of the
town in the desert.
The Louxor airport is 15 minutes from the centre of
town.
Always negotiate
your taxi fare before you start out.
Car
rental
Avis
has several offices in Egypt :
Alexandria : Cecil Hotel 202 483 7173
Cairo : airport 202 265 2429,
Nile Hilton Hotel 202578 0321,
Meridien Hotel 202362 1717,
Meridien Heliopolis : 202290 5055
Hurghada : 202 065 447400
Sharm el Sheih : Sonestra Hotel 202 62
600979
All Avis cars are
completely equipped, have done less than 15,000 kms
and have an average age of 3 months. The vehicles
are carefully prepared and checked between each
rental using a procedure containing 7 obligatory
control points.
The cars are rented with a full tank.
Renting from Avis automatically means that the car
passengers, renter and/or driver are covered by a
third party insurance as well as an insurance
covering repatriation and the immobilization of the
vehicule in case of an accident.
You can reserve a
car :
- from your travel agent
- from the international reservation centre at 0
820 05 05 05
- or from any Avis agency
Avis has an interactive network worldwide, a client
can reserve a car instantly from anywhere in the
world.
We recommend that
you pay your rental using your accredited Avis card
or with another credit card accepted by Avis :
American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Diners.
Through a simple free membership system, Avis gives
identity and/or payment cards, which are a real
help for a rapid and efficient service.
REASSURING : No
on-line payment, you can pay Avis directly at the
agency when you return the car
RAPID : Avis has the quickest car rental
reservation service on the web
ECONOMICAL : The cheapest rates on the market are
available on the Avis microsite
COMPLETE : You can rent a car anywhere in the
world.
The Avis network : 5000 agencies in 172 countries,
is now on-line!
EFFICIENT : Find your town (you don't have to fill
in the country), enter the date and click on
estimate
PRACTICAL : You only have to fill in 4 boxes and
you will receive an e-mail confirming the
reservation.
You can even rent a vehicle at the last minute just
round the corner or ... on the other side of the
world.
Hotels/Restaurants
Hotels
AL
ALAMEIN
El Alamein
Sidi Abdel Rahman El Dabaa
Centre North Coast, Al Alamein.
Tel : (20/3) 492 1228, Fax (20/3) 807250.
Opposite the Mediterranean, 127 kms from
Alexandria. Airport El Nouzha.
ALEXANDRIA
 Helnan
Palestine
Montaza Palace, Alexandria.
Tel (20/3) 547 3500
Fax (20/3) 547 3378.
Pullman
Ceci
Saad Zaghloul Square
Alexandria
Tel (20/3) 807 055
Fax (20/3) 807 250
Ramada
Renaissance
544 El Geish St, Sidi Bishr
Alexandria
Tel (20/3) 866 111
Fax (20/3) 431 1690.
Sheraton
Montazah
Corniche Rd, Montazah
Alexandria
Tel (20/3) 548 0550
Fax (20/3) 540 1331.
Hotel
Normandy
Sahria Gama and din Yassin
Ranleh station
ABOU
SIMBEL
Hotel
Nefertari,
Tel 97 40 05 08 fax 97 40 05 10
ASSOUAN
Oberoi
Elephantine Island
PO Box 62
Assouan
Tel (20/97) 323 455 Fax (20/97) 323 485.
Pullman
Cataract
Abtal El Tahrir St
Assouan
Tel (20/97) 323 222 Fax (20/97) 323 510.
LOUXOR
Ste
Catherine Hôtel
Sphynx
Hôtel
Everest
Hôtel
El
Salam Hôtel
Nuweiba
Ste
Catherine Monastery
CAIRO
Flamenco
Hotel
2 El Gezaira El Wosta Street
Zamalek, Cairo
Tel (20/2) 340 0815 Fax (20/2) 340 0819.
Cairo
Meridien Hotels
Corniche El Nil Garden City
Roda Island
PO Box 2288
Cairo, :
Tel (20/2) 362 1717 Fax (20/2) 362 1927.
Restaurants
Cairo
Alfi Bey restaurant.
Felfela Garden Restaurant.
Assouan
The
Panorama.
Haman Restaurant.
Louxor
Amoun, next to the Souk.
Abu Hagger.
El Houda.
Medinet
Abou
Restaurant Maratonga.
Your
suitcase
Take very
light clothing with a sweater for the evenings and
the air conditionning.
Women should avoid wearing short skirts, low cut
blouses or shorts. Take along rather wide trousers
and long sleeved shirts to avoid being bitten by
mosquitos or getting sunburn. A hat and suncream
are necessary.
In the monasteries
it is forbidden to wear short sleeves.
To visit the tombs
don't forget to bring along a torch (and spare
batteries).
Schools
Ecole
Champollion, Alexandria
Lycée français du Caire, Cairo
Alexandria University, Hadara, Alexandria
American University, Cairo
Ministry of Higher Education, Cairo
Ain Shams University,Cairo
Cairo University, Cairo.
International centre of agriculture, Caire.
Regional centre of adult education (ASFEC),
Menoufia.
(See the addresses in Useful Addresses.).
Information
Shopping
in the Souks :
Objects
in copper, in silver, painting on papyrus, carpets,
jewelry, embroidery, turquoises, lapis-lazuli,
articles in leather, snakeskin and crocodile,
antiques, spices, coral, khol ...
You are expected to
haggle both in the souks and the boutiques.
You can expect to be pestered by both beggars and
children when you walk in town.
Gastronomy
Egyptian cooking is oriental. Some regional dishes
:
grilled fish from the Red Sea, stuffed pigeons,
chawarmas, kofta, kebabs, foul made with brown
broad beans and lentils, meloukhia, a clear chicken
soup with herbs, fattha, a salad with lamb and
curds, shish tawok, a chicken with spices, giant
prawns from Alexandria.
Desserts:
baklawa,
kataif,
sweets made
with semolina,
honey cakes,
raisins, almonds, dates
Drinks
: sweet Turkish
coffee - infusion of red flowers, karkadé -
wine
Various
National day is the
23rd July 1952, which is the anniversary of the
revolution. The constitution was established on
11th September 1971.
The flag is 3 horizontal strips, red, white and
black with the national emblem in the middle : the
seal on a golden eagle facing a scroll with the
country's name written in Arabic.
Public
holidays
1st
January : New Year's Day
1st May : Labour Day
25th April : Anniversary of the liberation of the
Sinai
18th June : anniversary of the Republique
23rd July : Revolution Day
6th October : Army Day
23rd December : Victory Day
Also
celebrated, depending on the lunar
calendar:
Korité
(end of Ramadan)
Tabaski (sheep celebration)
Tamxarit (a Muslim religious day)
Other
religious celebrations which are not public
holidays :
The Magal at Touba (which is the Mecca of the
Mourides)
The Gamou (pilgrimage to Mecca of the Tdjanes, to
the north of Thiès)
The Christian pilgrimage to Popenguine (Monday of
Pentecost)
Tips
or bakchich
In the
hotels and restaurants, you can tip as you
wish.
On cruises it is normal to tip $3 a day per
person.
To visit the tombs don't forget to bring along a
torch.
Banks
You will
find the following banks in Egypt :
EFG Hermes, 55
Charles de Gaulle St, Giza, Egypt.
National Bank of Egypt, Tower 1187, Corniche El
Nile, Cairo.
Misr Exterior Bank, Cairo Plaza Building, Cornich
El Nil.
Guides
Guide du
Routard
Lonely Planet Egypt/Sudan.
Marco Polo maps from the National Geographical
Institute
 French
Trade Commission notes available in Paris, at the
Librairie du Commerce International, 345
FF
-Normes,
réglementation et assurance qualité
en Egypte (Feb. 1996, 50 pages).
-L'industrie du ciment en Egypte (Oct. 1996, 23
pages).
-L'industrie des engrais chimiques en Egypte (Oct.
1996, 20 pages).
-Le marché des parfums et cosmétiques
en Egypte (Oct. 1996, 35 pages).
Free notes on
individual sectors (in French)
-
Alexandrie : aperçu sur l'économie de
la seconde ville d'Egypte (Feb. 96).
- La consommation des ménages (Feb. 96).
- Le régime et la protection des
investissements en Egypte (Mar. 96).
- Le marché du bois de sciage (April
1996).
- Le Secteur du papier et du carton (May1996).
- Le marché des piscines (June 1996).
- Le marché égyptien des eaux
minérales (June 1996).
- Le contrat d'agence commerciale (June1996).
- Le secteur avicole en Egypte (June 1996).
- La filière maïs en Egypte July
1996).
- La restauration rapide en Egypte (July1996).
- Le secteur médical (Aug. 1996).
- Le marché automobile (Sept. 1996).
- Le marché du meuble (Sept. 1996).
- Les zones franches en Egypte (Oct. 96).
- Le marché de l'outillage (Oct. 96).
- L'élevage bovin en Egypte (Oct. 96).
- Le marché du poisson importé en
Egypte (Oct. 96).
- Le marché des produits laitiers en Egypte
(Oct. 96).
- Le développement du machinisme agricole en
Egypte (Oct. 96).
- Le marché de la poudre de lai et du
butteroil (Oct. 96).
Tourism
Egypt
offers an entire palette of sites to visit and
colourful things to do. With its marvelous climate
and its friendly people, Egypt still charms with
its 70 centuries of culture and history. Travelling
in Egypt necessitates a certain patience and
indulgence, as the structures are not always as
organized as in Europe. In fact it is better to
travel via a known travel agent and avoid losing
time in this country where the bakchich is the rule
and the regulations are sometimes not very
clear.
To
visit:
Cairo museum, the Pharaohs' treasures.
The Museum of Coptic Art
The Mosque of Sultan Hassan
The Pyramids of Gizah.
The Pyramids of Saqqarah. The pyramid built by King
Djoser is built in 6 graduations. The statue of
Djoser near the Pyramid
The statue de Ramses II at Memphis
The fortress of Trajan
The citadelle of Saladin from the Ayyubide era
The town of Fcotat, the first capital of Islam
Elephantine island (mausoleum of the Aga Khan,
Kitchener's Island), sail in a felucca.
Abu Simbel and Philae.
The Nilometer on Rodah island, end of the IXth
century
Luxor ...
The
Oasis
Lost in a
sea of sand, sprinkled with little islands, the
oasis are typical of Egypt and you have to see
them: - the Siwa oasis, a sacred place dedicated to
the god Amon
- Farafra "the white", mineral statues sculpted by
the wind in the sand
- Kharga, with its warm water used for treating
rheumatism
- El Fayorem, inhabited since prehistoric
times
Cruises
on the Nile
The Nile is
the longest river in the world. Over a period of
three thousand years people built temples and tombs
along its banks, developed writing, agriculture,
discovered geometry and arithmetic. A cruise on the
Nile between Luxor and Assouan is both a trip
through time via the monuments of ancient Egypt,
and also a discovery of fascinating
landscapes.
The
desert
Since the
time of Moses, the people of the Mediterranean owe
a part of their origins and their religion to the
Sinai desert. In the north the desert is edged with
dunes, the coast is a forest of palm trees and
tamarisk, the interior is made up of ochre chalk
cliffs in the middle of arid plains.
The
Red Sea
This region
has become legendary for divers. The underwater
fauna and flora are the most extraordinary in the
world, particularly the variety of corals. It is
friendly, well organized and there is good diving
material available, all set up in a perfect tourist
infrastructure.
Excursions : discover the sea beds with a
sub-marine, safari in a 4-wheel drive in the desert
or the mountains, visit a Bedouin camp, take a
camel ride, a boat ride to Giftun island...
Sharm
el Sheikh
Situated on the
southernmost point of the Sinai peninsula, this
town has become a fashionable sea resort. Hotels,
restaurants, handicraft boutiques are grouped
together at the foot of the Sinai mountains.
Excursions : safaris in a 4-wheel drive crossing
the wadi and the coloured canyon, the St Catherine
monastery, climb Mt Moses, ride a camel in the
mountains where the Bedouins live, take a boat to
Bas Mohamed, a natural park on the south point of
the Sinai...
Luxor
The temple of
Amon-Râ
Karnak, the biggest pillared temple in the world
(134 columns). An alley way of sphinxes leads up to
the monumental entry of the temple
The colosses of Memnon, 20m high statues which
represent the pharaoh
Valley of the Queens : 80 tombs from 1300 to 100
BC
Valley of the Kings : tombs of Ramses I,II,III,
Tutankhamon, etc
The sacred town of Denderah, with its 3
sanctuaries
The town of Abydes, dedicated to the cult of
Osiris
Assouan
Abu Simbel,
on the banks of Lake Nasser is the temple of Ramses
II, next to it is the temple of Hathor, dedicated
to his wife Nefertari
Kalabsha, the ancient city of Talmis
Philae, a temple dedicated to Isis, rebuilt on the
island of Agilkia after the flooding of the
valley.
Sports
: Golf, tennis,
squash, diving
Shows
Dinner in
old Cairo followed by a medieval Mamelouk show
Dance of whirling dervishes in the El Ghuri palace
in Cairo
Dance of Arab pure-blood horses
Son et lumière in the temples of Philae, in
Karnak, or a classical music
concert.
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