Egyptian growth held in check by protests and strikes - The National

Egypt's economy hardly grew in the three months to the end of September last year as persistent protests and strikes hurt output.

Slower activity across industry, construction and tourism meant GDP expanded at just 0.2 per cent in that period in comparison with the same period in 2010, Magdy Emam, the head of the planning ministry's infrastructure division, was quoted by Egyptian media as telling a parliamentary committee.

"Before the revolution GDP growth was strong, but people were unhappy as the benefits were not being shared equally," said Jean-Michel Saliba, the Middle East and North Africa economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. "Now the overall size of the pie is smaller, which compounds the problem." Egypt's economy has been beset by protests and labour strikes since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak as president in February last year.

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