Globalization: Trade And Investment In Egypt, Jordan And Syria Since 1980 - Statistical Data Included

[Oil accounted for about 65% of Syria's exports merchandise exports in that year, and 20% of its GDP.] Many of these exports are not usually thought of as some of the driving forces of development. The linkages with the rest of the economy are limited in the industries associated with the production of these products, especially the oil industry.(33)

Syria has not done well in connecting its exports to the basic needs of real development. For all of Syria's exports in 1996 primary products accounted for 93%, labor intensive products 4%, technology intensive products a measly 1%, human capital intensive products just 1%, and natural resource intensive products only 1%. Primary product based development often has led to immizerizing growth in developing as well as developed countries.(34)

Egypt's largest import markets have been recently the U.S., the EU, the People's Republic of China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Egypt's largest export markets have been Italy, the U.S., the U.K., other large EU economies, Singapore, Romania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia. Just about all of the continents are in this list.(35)

Egypt's recent top articles of exports:(36)

Product group for export             Top destination markets

Oil                                  Israel, Italy, Romania
Petroleum products                   Italy, U.S., Romania
Yams                                 Italy, U.S., Belgium
Vegetables                           U.K., Germany, Saudi Arabia
Apparel                              U.S., Germany, U.K.
Men's clothing                       U.S., Italy, Romania
Aluminum                             Belgium, Germany, Italy
Women's clothing                     U.S., Italy, Romania
Cotton                               Japan, Korea, Italy
Fruits and Nuts                      Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, U.K.
Woven cotton                         Italy, U.K., Romania
Floor coverings                      U.S., Germany, Japan

Egypt also exports iron bars to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Japan. Again, many of these export items are not exactly related to the driving forces of modern development. But Egypt is doing a lot better than Syria in this category. Of all of Egypt's exports in 1996, 67% were primary products, 4% were natural resource intensive, 21% labor intensive (good for a labor surplus economy), 4% technology intensive, and 4% human capital intensive products.(37) If exports are to lead development Egypt does not seem to be focusing on the most dynamic and competitive industries in the long run.

Jordan's largest export markets in 1996 were India, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Jordan's largest import sources were the EU, the PRC, Turkey, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Japan, Australia, and Brazil. Notice that Egypt, Jordan and Syria share in some of the non-Arab markets for exports and share in sources of imports. When one looks at the export markets these three countries have outside and inside of the region, and the overlaps in the products that they export, one can also see some room for competition as well as cooperation.(38)