ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Islamic customs should be respected. According to aristmarketing, many business people in Egypt speak English and French, but business cards in Arabic are welcome. Suits shouldn’t be black, as these are only common for funerals. Female business travelers should dress cautiously and show as little skin as possible (black should also be avoided here). You should be on time for appointments, but not necessarily expect this from the Egyptian negotiating partner. Invitations and gifts are offered, but should not be accepted until the third time. Hierarchies are extremely important; Business travelers should allow plenty of time for negotiations.
Cairo
Courtesy and hospitality are important in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world not only in everyday life, but also in business matters. The host of a business meeting shouldn’t forget to offer his guests tea or a bite to eat before moving on to business. It is considered polite to decline the first offer, but the host must insist; however, rejecting the second or third offer would be considered impolite. Alcohol should be avoided until one knows the attitude of the Egyptian business partner to it. Even if visitors drink alcohol together with Egyptians, they should only drink in moderation, especially women, for whom excessive alcohol consumption is considered improper. Hosts are generous. If invited to a business lunch at lunchtime, the table is likely to bend under the weight of the numerous foods and visitors should try to enjoy it as much as possible. It is better to pretend an allergy to a certain food than to reject something in advance. Showing anger or openly criticizing a person is considered the culmination of bad manners throughout the Arab world. Tactical and diplomatic behavior is necessary in business meetings, and you can learn a lot from watching Cairo businessmen go about their business. Instead of criticizing or contradicting someone, visitors should ask if an alternative solution is possible. if you watch Cairo businessmen as they proceed. Instead of criticizing or contradicting someone, visitors should ask if an alternative solution is possible. if you watch Cairo businessmen as they proceed. Instead of criticizing or contradicting someone, visitors should ask if an alternative solution is possible.
In private, it is considered impolite to arrive on time at a meeting, because here you always arrive a little late. While this is less true in the business world, it still happens. Nobody objects if foreigners arrive on time, but Egyptians make use of their right to come a little late. So visitors should be prepared for it and not feel offended. In a Muslim country, women should not shake hands with a man first, only when the man initiates the handshake (however, at business meetings, a foreigner should wait for an Egyptian woman to offer a hand in greeting); Restrained clothing is particularly important for women; they should show as little skin as possible. Black suits or costumes are taboo,
Opening hours
Business hours: Government offices are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. except on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays. Business hours in the private sector are usually 9 am-4pm / 5pm and some are open in the evenings. Muslim businesses may be closed on Thursday afternoons and Fridays, while businesses belonging to the Christian minority may be closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Shops close earlier during Ramadan.
Economy
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonskirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce
12, Champollion Street, Borg El Tahra, EG- El Azarita
Tel: (03) 485 32 53.
Internet: www.ahkmena.com
Austrian-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce
Opernring 1, Stiege R, 2nd floor, door 201, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 581 65 00.
Internet: http://aecc1.tripod.com/ccaaeggypt/
Egyptian Trade Mission,
4 Boulevard du Theâtre, CH-1204 Genève
Tel: (022) 819 91 11.
Internet: www.cci.ch
Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
(Federation of Chambers of Commerce)
4, Falaki Square, EG-Cairo
Tel: (202) 795 11 36.
For further information from the tourist office (website: www.trade.egypt.travel) or obtained from the following addresses:
Cairo International Conference and Exhibition Center
Sharia el-Nasr, Nasr City, EG-Cairo
Tel: (02) 263 46 31.
Internet: www.cicc.egnet.net
Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels
4 Latin America Street, EG-Cairo
Tel: (02) 794 29 14.
Business contacts
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonskirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce
12, Champollion Street, Borg El Tahra, EG- El Azarita
Tel: (03) 485 32 53.
Internet: www.ahkmena.com
Austrian-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce
Opernring 1, Stiege R, 2nd floor, door 201, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 581 65 00.
Internet: http://aecc1.tripod.com/ccaaeggypt/
Egyptian Trade Mission,
4 Boulevard du Theâtre, CH-1204 Genève
Tel: (022) 819 91 11.
Internet: www.cci.ch
Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce
(Federation of Chambers of Commerce)
4, Falaki Square, EG-Cairo
Tel: (202) 795 11 36.
Further information is available from the Tourist Office or at the following addresses:
Cairo International Conference and Exhibition Center
Sharia el-Nasr, Nasr City, EG-Cairo
Tel: (02) 263 46 31.
Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels
4 Latin America Street, EG-Cairo
Tel: (02) 794 29 14.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 0020. There are public card phones. Long distance calls can also be made in post offices and hotels. Telephone costs are highest in hotels. Public telephones can be found in many cafés and restaurants. Telephone cards are available in pharmacies, tobacco shops and kiosks.
Phone
The country code is 0020. There are public card phones. Long distance calls can also be made in post offices and hotels. Telephone costs are highest in hotels. Public telephones can be found in many cafés and restaurants. Telephone cards are available in pharmacies, tobacco shops and kiosks.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800, 3G 2100. Network operators are ECMS-MobiNil (Internet: www.mobinil.com) and Vodafone Egypt (Internet: www.vodafone.com.eg). The reception / transmission range is limited to the populated areas along the Nile and the coast, a speech delay can occur during the call. Roaming contracts exist.
Internet
Internet cafes can be found in the larger cities and in the tourist centers. Many hotels also offer their guests access to the Internet. The main provider is, among others, Internet Egypt (Internet: www.internetegypt.com).
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes around 5 days. Poste restante shipments are possible, a fee is charged for collection. Post offices are open Sat-Thu 8.30 a.m.-3 p.m. The main post office in Cairo is open 24 hours. The easiest way to post letters is in hotels and letters up to 100 g can be sent as express mail.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.