Because the translator let me down, I took advantage of the time to write this article and share the anecdotes I encountered in Egypt.
First, the waters of the Nile.
In Egypt, the residents’ livelihood largely depended on the Nile, which stretches 6,853 kilometres. Although the Nile’s waters are muddy, the cost is relatively lower compared to those living in Middle Eastern countries, who need to desalinate seawater for drinking.
In Africa, the Nile passes through ten countries before flowing into Egypt and finally into the Mediterranean Sea. These ten upstream countries heavily rely on this river for their daily needs. Whether it’s for bathing, doing laundry, or discharging domestic wastewater, they depend on it entirely. So, one can imagine how murky the water is.
The water here contained a high level of calcium carbonate, leading people to believe that the waters of the Nile were unclean. As a result, nearly every household opted to purchase an RO water system.
Secondly, they were better at business than the Jews. If you wish to conduct business with this country, your prices must be lower than others. Furthermore, almost everyone would request credit, with credit periods ranging from 30 to 120 days. Some clients would even impolitely demand exclusive agency rights.
Thirdly, it is a peculiar country. Egypt possesses many unique characteristics, such as:
- Ninety percent of the land is barren desert.
- It rains fewer than three times a year, with each occurrence lasting less than 45 minutes.
- The temperature difference between day and night can exceed ten degrees Celsius.
- The price of petrol is about US$0.18 per litre. How cheap that is! I have travelled to many countries, but I have never seen such inexpensive petrol.
Fourthly, a preference for Taiwanese RO water filters. In Egypt, people favoured household water purification equipment from Taiwan, insisting that every product and component bore a prominent MIT (Made in Taiwan) logo. Perhaps they had been deceived multiple times when purchasing Chinese products. There was an Egyptian buyer who manufactured many parts himself in Cairo, yet he still sourced the same components from Taiwan. I asked him why, and he said that many consumers specifically requested MIT products.
Fifthly, it is a country with thousands of years of culture and history. Egypt, like China, is a nation with 7,000 years of ancient civilisation, yet this has not translated into a better environment or habits for its people. The population of 95.31 million all speak Arabic, as there is no native language. Additionally, fierce competition among businessmen is evident everywhere. The cars on the streets are very old, which might be related to the high tariffs. It is said that tariffs can reach 100%-300%. Even with a 1600cc car, one must still pay a 30%-40% tariff.
Although there is a subway in downtown Cairo, it is very old. The traffic congestion is perhaps the worst in the world. You can see three cars driving side by side on a two-lane road.
Sixth, the Cheapest Taxi Fare I Had Ever Seen
If you’re visiting Egypt for business or leisure, it’s essential to bring plenty of masks. As a desert country, Egypt has sand blowing everywhere. I once went out in the morning and returned by noon, only to find myself covered in sand. The taxi fare here starts at 4 Egyptian pounds (approximately NT$8), and I took a ride for an hour and a half, which only cost me about NT$90. Despite the incredibly cheap fare, taxi drivers often keep the car windows open, making masks necessary. Additionally, if you’re taking a taxi without a local companion, there’s a chance the driver might overcharge you.
Seventh, the Devaluation of the Egyptian Pound
The average monthly income for nationals is about US$200. Over the past year, the devaluation of the Egyptian pound has been severe. A year ago, you could exchange US$1 for eight Egyptian pounds, but now the rate has plummeted to 18.5 Egyptian pounds per US dollar. This represents a devaluation of over 100%.
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