Egypt launches six-month price reduction initiative for basic commodities alongside intensified market controls

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has ordered governors to intensify market monitoring and enforce visible price displays as part of a newly launched six-month initiative to reduce prices on basic commodities across the country.

During a Governors’ Council meeting in the New Administrative Capital, Madbouly mandated the creation of permanent markets in every governorate and a programme for seasonal markets in coordination with the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce. An initiative launched on September 10 by the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade currently offers 12 basic commodities at reduced prices across 284 outlets. This will expand by 18 items to total 30 commodities in September and run until March 2027, covering the month of Ramadan.

Addressing environmental policy, Madbouly enforced a strict ban on cutting trees unless authorised by the Minister of Local Development and Environment, Manal Awad. He ordered the implementation of a “greening all governorates” project, requiring cleared spaces to be converted into green areas using tertiary treated water, alongside tree planting along main roads, city entrances, and internal road islands under the guidance of consultants.

Minister Awad presented new waste management directives, mandating that commercial shops provide waste bins with a capacity of at least 240 litres to prevent street dumping. She ordered the closure of illegal dumping sites, restricted waste collection to official transfer stations, and instructed the engagement of civil society and small entities to operate waste management systems in villages.

Awad also directed authorities to intensify the monitoring of rice straw collection to prevent open burning and the “black cloud” of air pollution, ensuring collection sites hold operating licences from the Waste Management Regulatory Agency in accordance with Law 202 of 2020.

Reviewing “Wave 30” operations against land encroachments between August 29 and September 11, Awad reported the removal of 2,308 building and 583 agricultural violations on state property. An additional 1,889 building and 523 agricultural cases identified by the spatial variables system were removed, alongside 1,353 encroachments on agricultural land and 3,280 removals executed outside the initial target.

Awad stressed the need to prioritise road paving in the 2026/2027 investment plan, formulate coordination records for restoring internal roads in the first phase of the Decent Life presidential initiative, and settle outstanding debts to the Ministry of Electricity and the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater.

Madbouly instructed governors to monitor schools for the new academic year and to prioritise citizen complaints by activating operations centres. He mandated personal oversight by governors of street lighting, internal roads, sanitation, encroachment prevention, transport station management, and the rationalisation of electricity consumption in government buildings.

The meeting was attended in person by Matrouh Governor Major General Mohamed El-Zamlout, Giza Governor Ahmed El-Ansari, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, Qalyubia Governor Hossam El-Din Abdel Fattah, and Red Sea Governor Walid Abdel Azim El-Barqi, with remaining governors participating via video conference.