Historical Overview
Cairo Chamber of Commerce was the first Egyptian Chamber established in Cairo by Abdelkhalek
Madkour Pasha in the name of the "Cairo Trade Secret " in1913, and had included Some traders and
its chairman was named, "Shahbandar of Traders".
Shahbandar is a word with Turkish roots, and it means chairman. In 1941 the first world war broke out
and hindered its formation.
In 1919 group of Capital traders headed by Abdul Qader AlGamal pasha decided to establish
an Egyptian commercial chamber in Cairo and they elected him as chairman and King Fouad
bestowed the title "shahbander of Cairo traders" upon him .The Chamber Participation fees had first
been optional until 1930, then the Ministry of Finance decided to pay a yearly contribution amounted
2000 Egyptian pounds.
In 1951 the chambers of commerce law no. 189 was issued during the period of King Farouk and was
amended to Law No.6 for the year 2002 ( the current law).
Every trader-individual or corporate- pay participation fees, which amounted 2 per thousand from
the Company's Capital to the Chamber , where located his main activity, main branch, or his subsidiary
company, and also the registration fees should be more than 24 Egyptian pounds and less than 2000
Egyptian pounds. In addition, the trader should fulfill their Late payment penalties, which are assessed
at the rate of 25% of Chamber's participation fees . The Chamber of Commerce is not a Syndicate for
traders, but it is organization with legal personality that includes all of those, who engaged in
the field of commercial activity, whether public, private, cooperative, or industrial sector, and
the Chambers' jurisdictions represent the commercial interests in front of public authorities .
The Chamber is considered one of public organizations and was established according to a decision
by the Minister of Trade. This decision identifies its headquarter, its jurisdiction and the number of
its members.
The Cairo Chamber of Commerce includes a large number of traders representing about 60% of those,
who engaged in trade activities in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The chambers of commerce numbers in the Arab Republic of Egypt 26 chambers so that each
governorate has an independent chamber. They are gathered by the General Federation of Chambers
of Commerce that must be located in Cairo Governorate.
Administrative system of Cairo Chamber of Commerce
Cairo Chamber of Commerce is administrated by :
1- Board of Directors
2- The Bureau members
3- Executive Body
1-Board of Directors:
The Chamber of Commerce is administrated by a board of directors, consisting of: (22)
members, (11) of them are elected by traders, and the others are appointed by
the Ministerof Trade.
The Board of Directors shall elect the Bureau members, consisting of:
The Chairman – two deputies of chairman - Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer –
General Secretary.
The Board of Directors shall manage the Chamber's affairs especially as follows:
1- Making policies for the Cairo Chamber.
2- Putting organizational rules of the budget, the buying and selling accounts and
rules Plus investing the surplus funds.
3- Making organizational rules of the Chamber's departments, which identify its tasks
and monitoring the work process facilitation.
4- Expressing the opinion on the works or proposals, which were received from
Bureau membersor public authorities.
2-the Bureau Members
Tasks of the Bureau Members, including the following
1-putting the Chamber of Commerce general policy
2-Following-up to the implementation of the budget.
3-Considering the staff affairs within the limits of the Regulations
4-Preparing the Board of Directors agenda.
3-The Executive body
Executive body is headed by chief executive, who is responsible in front of the Board of directors for
the tasks of the Chamber's staff and their affairs.
Tasks of the Executive Body
1-Implementing the Board of Directors and the Bureau members decisions Preparing the Chamber's
draft budget and the closing accounts, which are presented to the Board of Directors
2-Implementing the budget within the laws and regulations.
3-Collecting data and information about the possibility of production and consumption prospects for
the future.
4-communicating with other Chambers of Commerce, local authorities and other trade bodies , and
disseminating the data and information related to the local business.
5-Printing and disseminating the data and information of interest to all, who engaged in economic and
commercial affairs.