Chamber figures put the number of registered businesses at 41,000, up by 3,400 on last year, most of them in retail and logistics.
The Chamber had earlier launched a trader training programme on e-invoicing, taken up by more than 2,100 participants across six governorates.
The figures in brief
He added that stock turnover improved by close to 12% over the last quarter, but that the cost of finance remains the first obstacle to expansion in the governorates.
| Commodity | Last week | This week |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 41,200 | 42,000 |
| Cement | 3,850 | 3,900 |
Every day of delay in customs release costs an importer more than any tax cut saves him.
A number of importers argue that the proposed timetable needs a transition period of at least six months, so that small businesses can adapt their accounting systems.
Where the divisions stand
- new pricing rules for staple goods among next quarter’s priorities
- A review of the timetable with the trade divisions
- A monthly report to the federation’s board
The meeting closed by forming a joint Chamber–ministry committee, meeting weekly to follow implementation and reporting monthly to the federation’s board.
Karim Fouad
Mostafa Abdel-Latif