he US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (designate) Sameh SHOUKRY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY
embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik
Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo
telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with
a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name
of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an
Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has
a plain white band
Economy
Egypt
Economy - overview:
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is
bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic
activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has
reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President
Gamel Abdel NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF's government
reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies,
and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP
grew about 5% per year in 2005-06, and topped 7% in 2007. Despite
these achievements, the government has failed to raise living
standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue
providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have
contributed to a sizeable budget deficit - roughly 7.5% of GDP in
2007 - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreign
direct investment has increased significantly in the past two years,
but the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive
pursuit of reforms in order to sustain the spike in investment and
growth and begin to improve economic conditions for the broader
population. Egypt's export sectors - particularly natural gas - have
bright prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$405.4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$127.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2
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