The meeting closed by forming a joint Chamber–ministry committee, meeting weekly to follow implementation and reporting monthly to the federation’s board.
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
The ministry’s representative stressed that the new rules aim at transparency in the supply chain rather than at fixing prices, and that breaches will go to the Consumer Protection Agency.
The small trader is not asking for a subsidy. He is asking for one clear rule that does not change every three months.
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.
The Chamber’s view
- export facilities into African markets among next quarter’s priorities
- A review of the timetable with the trade divisions
- A monthly report to the federation’s board
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.
Karim Fouad
Hala Soliman
Mostafa Abdel-Latif