EPSF Profile of Egypt

Official Name Arab Republic of Egypt

Capital Cairo

Flag Tricolor of red, white and black horizontal stripes, with a golden eagle on the white stripe.

Population On 1/1/1999, the Egyptian population was estimated at approximately 62 million.

Area Around one million square km. of these, only around 5.5% are populated.

Borders

- To the North: Mediterranean Sea

- To the South: Sudan

- To the East: Gaza Strip, Israel and the Red Sea

- To the West: Libya

Language Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in business circles.

Climate Generally dry climate. Moderate temperatures and humidity prevail on the Mediterranean

coast, while in southern Egypt, the summer is hot and the winter is generally warm.

Currency Egyptian Pound (L.E.) = 100 Piasters.

Exchange Rate US$ 1 = L.E. 4.64 (October 2001).

Time Zone GMT + 2

Egypt observes daylight saving time during Summer months.

Business Hours Government offices work Saturday through Thursday, with Friday as the day off. The

private sector normally works five days a week, Sunday through Thursday