the General Division of the importers at the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce holds a meeting this week including a large number of home appliance traders of Al-Azhar and Mousky, and a number of commercial districts, in some provinces, to discuss the problems arising from the decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, concerning the import ban of the major commodity groups except from registered factories in the General Authority for Exports and Imports Control.

Mr. / Hamdy al-Najjar, head of the division pointed out, that the Minister's decision was issued without consultations with the competent authorities and stakeholders, and causes the growing activity of smuggling goods from abroad, and raises the burdens of import costs, as well as what may cause reciprocity action from some countries and trading blocs.

In the same context, Mr. / Khalid Fathallah, Vice President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, said that the decision in this way creates monopolistic situations, and damages the small traders, and raises costs, adding that most of the goods covered in decision are not produced locally.