Syrian refugees set up businesses in Egypt

Thousands of Syrian refugees have set up shop in Egypt after fleeing President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Arabstoday investigated the burgeoning population in 6th October City in Giza governate. A proliferation of new Syrian businesses has caused property and rent prices to skyrocket in 6th October City. Syrian and Egyptian youth are competing for jobs, which are few and far between in the current economic downturn. Nonetheless, Syrians have managed to earn a living. Hussein al-Ghazali, a Syrian restaurant owner, endeavoured to open a business to support his family upon arriving in the city six months ago. Al-Ghazali confirmed that the recent rise in residential and commercial real estate prices was prompted by Syrian demand. “Owners hiked up prices as if we were tourists, not Arab siblings,” the restaurant owner reported. Mohamed el-Gasoli, a refugee who now runs a clothing store, emphasised that Syrians never intended to steal Egyptian jobs or cause inflation. Rather, they were obliged to escape a crisis with no end in sight. El-Gasoli affirmed: “Egypt has opened its doors to us, and we thank the Egyptian people for hosting us and protecting our families from the brutality of the Syrian regime.” Omar Ali, an Egyptian resident, told Arabstoday that 6th October City has begun to resemble Damascus. “You will find a Syrian owner or worker in any café or shop you enter,” he asserted, adding that real estate prices had increased four-fold. A report issued by the Egyptian-Syrian Business Council stated that Syrian investment in Egypt had doubled in recent months. The report detailed unprecedented capital flow from Syria to Egypt final quarter of 2012 and an upsurge in Syrian investments in industrial cities including Obour, 10th of Ramadan City, 6th October City and Sadat. The council estimated that 50,000 Syrian investors, or 30 percent of the total number of businessmen to have fled the ongoing crisis, have established restaurants, cafes and textile workshops in Egypt. The Egyptian government has authorised special treatment for Syrian refugees, who can enter the country without a visa, obtain a renewable three-month residence permit, and receive public education and healthcare.   The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that 6097 Syrians had entered Egypt last November, but Egyptian sources claimed the refugee population surpassed 40,000.