The document summarizes an orientation session at the University of Arizona about Egypt. It provides background information on Egypt, including its geography, government and politics, economic evolution over the last decade, and current economic situation. It discusses Egypt's transition to a more market-based economy through IMF reforms, but also recent economic challenges due to lower foreign investment and currency devaluation. It outlines government and political structures, the dominant role of the National Democratic Party, and influential opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

1. University of Arizona Egypt Orientation Session January 28, 2004

3. EGYPT My homeland, my homeland, my hallowed land, Only to you, is my due hearty love at command, My homeland, my homeland, my hallowed land, Only to you is my due hearty love at command, Mother of the great ancient land, My sacred wish and holy demand, All should love, awe and cherish thee, Gracious is thy Nile to humanity, No evil hand can harm or do you wrong, So long as your free sons are strong, My homeland, my homeland, my hallowed land, Only to you, is my due hearty love at command. Source: http:// www.sis.gov.eg/anthem/html/anthem.htm To listen to the National Anthem, follow the link below:

4. Geography Location: Northeast corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea Source: http:// www.infoplease.com/atlas/africa.html

5. Geography Location: Northeast corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea Neighbors: West Libya , South the Sudan , East the Red Sea and Israel . Size: One and one-half times Texas. Egypt is divided into two unequal, extremely arid regions by the northward-flowing Nile River (100 mi). Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107484.html

27. Current Economic Situation DOMESTIC ECONOMY National Accounts Egyptian fiscal year ( July-June) US$ billions unless stated otherwise FY99/00 FY00/01 FY01/02 FY02/03* GDP (current prices, LE billion) 340 359 382 405 GDP (current prices, US$ billion) 98.7 93.3 88.1 78.7 GDP real growth rate (%) 5.9 3.4 3.2 2.5 GDP/Capita US$ 1420 1530 1470 NA Government Spending/GDP (%) 30.0 30.1 29.9 31.5 Consolidated Fiscal deficit/GDP 1.20 2.23 2.50 2.90 Inflation (%) 2.8 2.4 2.4 4.0 Wholesale Price Index (%, June of each year) 1.6 1.3 3.5 18.5** Unemployment (%) 9.0 9.2 9.0 9.9 Foreign Exchange Reserves 15.130 14.24 14.147 14.809 Reserves/months of imports 10.2 10.4 11.6 12 Avg. Exch. Rate for LE/$ 3.446 3.850 4.338 5.149 End of Period Exch. Rate (June of each year) 3.446 3.860 4.510 6.154 Debt service ratio (%)+ 8.0 7.4 9.3 9.8 Total Foreign Debt/GDP 28.2 28.5 32.6 35.7++ U.S. assistance (U.S. Fiscal Year) 2.035 1.995 1.955 1.915 Military 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Economic 0.735 0.695 0.655 0.615 *Preliminary figures for FY 2002/2003 unless stated otherwise. ** As of May 2003 + Debt Service is ratio of external debt service to current account receipts. ++ As of March 2003 Sources: Egyptian government, IMF, World Bank, & Embassy estimates based on those sources

28. Current Economic Situation Key Sectoral Statistics 1999 2000 2001 2002 Tourism* Revenues (USD million) 3904 4345 3800 3764 Total Arrivals (millions) 4.797 5.506 4.648 5.192 Energy and Petroleum ** Oil (crude) (avg. thous. barrels/day) 852 710 639 631 Gas ( bill. cubic feet/day) 1.4 1.7 2.4 2.6 Electricity (mill, MKH, fiscal years) 67.9 72.9 75.6 83.0 Construction*** (million tons) Cement (local sales +exports-imports) 23.1 24.1 25.7 28.1 Steel (production, rebars) 4.053 3.169 3.472 3.483 Agriculture ****(million metric tons) Wheat 6.40 6.40 6.20 6.15 Rice ( milled) 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.7 Sugar 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 Cotton (thousand metric tons) 233 200 310 315 * Ministry of Foreign Trade ** Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Foreign Trade (Elect. figures for fiscal years) *** EFG-Hermes, Ezz Steel **** US Dept. of Agriculture, cotton is marketing year: Aug.-Sep.

29. Current Economic Situation TRADE AND INVESTMENT US Calendar year US$ millions 1999 2000 2001 2002 U.S. Exports to Egypt 3000.8 3333.9 3564.4 2866.2 U.S. Imports from Egypt 617.6 887.7 882 1351.9* US Trade Balance with Egypt 2383.2 2446.2 2682.4 1514.3 U.S. FDI (stock) 2210 1998 2537 2959 * Includes temporary import of Egyptian antiquities museum touring exhibition, valued at $445 million. urce: U.S. Department of Commerce.