The meeting closed by forming a joint Chamber–ministry committee, meeting weekly to follow implementation and reporting monthly to the federation’s board.
The Chamber had earlier launched a trader training programme on e-invoicing, taken up by more than 2,100 participants across six governorates.
What happens next
The division head said the meeting examined the direct effect of the decision on supply inside the local market, and that the Chamber submitted a detailed memorandum carrying traders’ proposals on the timetable.
Verdict
The fair, reviewed
Well organised, and busier than expected.
- Organisation 8.8
- Turnout 8.0
What we liked
- A wide turnout
What we didn’t
- Cramped floor space
Transparency in the supply chain is not a burden on the market; it is what protects it from monopoly.
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 figures in brief
- an expanded Ahlan Ramadan fair among next quarter’s priorities
- A review of the timetable with the trade divisions
- A monthly report to the federation’s board
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.
Ahmed El-Shahbandar
Mona Abdel-Hakim