The General Chamber of Bakers, part of the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, recently held a meeting at the Giza Chamber of Commerce. Led by Abdullah Gharab, the meeting discussed several key issues affecting the baking industry. According to Mohamed Abdel Jawad, Secretary General of the General Chamber of Bakers, the meeting resulted in a decision to request an extension of the deadline for obtaining electronic licenses until December 30, 2026.
The Chamber plans to propose that the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade allow subsidized municipal bakeries to sell bread at free market prices to citizens who do not hold subsidized food cards. There are approximately 32,000 subsidized municipal bakeries across Egypt. The proposal aims to provide high-quality bread to all citizens, ensure a consistent supply of bread, and prevent price manipulation.
The proposed free market price for bread will be announced and approved by relevant authorities, with a clear pricing mechanism and regular reviews to account for production costs. Bakeries will be required to display prices and issue receipts to customers. The plan also involves intensifying monitoring and inspection to ensure compliance with specifications and prevent manipulation.
To prevent any interference with subsidized bread allocations, the Chamber suggests separating sales of free market bread from subsidized bread through independent tracking systems. This will ensure that subsidized bread allocations are not affected and that eligible citizens continue to receive their entitled share.
The General Chamber of Bakers will submit the proposal to the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Dr. Sharif Farouk, and the Minister of Local Development, Dr. Manal Awad. The proposal seeks to improve the bread supply chain and provide better services to Egyptian citizens.
Currently, subsidized municipal bakeries are required to sell bread at a subsidized price to citizens holding food cards. However, many citizens do not have access to these cards, and the proposed change aims to address this issue. The free market price for bread will likely be higher than the subsidized price but will provide an alternative for those who do not qualify for subsidized bread.
The General Chamber of Bakers hopes that the Ministry of Supply will consider their proposal and implement the necessary changes to allow subsidized municipal bakeries to sell bread at free market prices. This move is expected to improve the overall bread supply in Egypt and provide more options for citizens.
Key points
- The General Chamber of Bakers seeks to allow subsidized municipal bakeries to sell bread at free market prices to citizens without subsidized food cards.
- The proposal aims to provide high-quality bread to all citizens and prevent price manipulation.
- The plan involves separating sales of free market bread from subsidized bread through independent tracking systems.
