Biotechnology was first introduced into Egypt in 1990 and is developing rapidly. It is used for tissue culture of crops, genetic engineering, and diagnosis of tumors.
Research related to kidney, liver, and bone marrow transplants is still in the experimental stages.
This includes the introduction of biotechnology to universities and research centers. U.S. suppliers dominate the biotechnology equipment market through the use of Egyptian agents, who are typically well positioned to deal with both public and private sector concerns. Agents can often be efficient problem solvers, can coordinate all phases of the transaction with the buyer, and be committed to finalizing the transaction to the customer's satisfaction. A local agent for several leading U.S. biotechnology equipment firms reported that his successful marketing techniques included product demonstrations in well-targeted seminars. One biotech agent advised that he maintains a large spare parts inventory to satisfy his clients' needs.