Letters from Egypt: Buy Egyptian

“Next Friday 16-12-2011 is Buy Egyptian Products day. Please don’t buy anything other than Made in Egypt, this is only for one day and it will have a great impact on economy. Plz spread n be positive :)”

-Facebook Group Buy Egyptian

Great idea, but I’m sure you’re thinking, “What is actually made in Egypt?” Let’s look at the products that you can buy (and some reports are that they will be discounted):

• Bad food that result in an amazing weight loss regime with workout included (running to the bathroom for dear life helps shed those unwanted pounds)
• All you can pick up trash/rubbish. There’s plenty to go around
• That random sandal that you happened to trip over while walking to a cab; however, it is up to you to find its partner which always seems elusive
• Skin bleach because the scars afterwards are an added bonus
• My bowab’s children
• New taxi meters that have been tampered with to speed up costs

Disclaimer: All purchases are final, but for any product that seems to have problems functioning, there will be duct tape and silicon provided to help repair damages.

In all honesty, most of the products you’re going to find are manufactured in Dubai. The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is Egyptian cotton. Did you know that the high quality is actually sent abroad and the rest is sold in Egypt at triple the prices that you would pay in places like the US? Unlike going to buy jade in China and silk in India where prices are much cheaper since it’s the place of origin, it would be less expensive for you to purchase 100% Egyptian cotton sheets at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and the like in the US.

This is applicable across the board. Most of the products made in Egypt that are of somewhat decent quality are shipped abroad with damaged or not as efficient products remaining behind (undoubtedly the items that didn’t pass the quality control). There are very few products that come with the tag “Made in Egypt” that is enticing. Buying any appliance which could be made here will only result in buying a new one a month later.

Better said, a product “Made in Egypt” carries the “Made in China” stigma. The only difference: the Chinese factories are in production 24/7. Egypt is only at 40% capacity currently and meets quota almost never on the few products that it does make – protests or not.