Cairo: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli directed governors to continue monitoring markets to ensure the consistent availability of goods at stable prices and preventing any attempts to hide or hoard essential products, especially in light of the military escalation in the region and its global and domestic implications.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Madbouli's directives came during a meeting that he held on Sunday, March 8, 2026, with all governors in the New Capital, in the presence of Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk. The meeting was attended by Matrouh Governor Mohamed Zamlout, Giza Governor Ahmed El-Ansary, North Sinai Governor Khaled Magawer, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, New Valley Cairo Hanan Magdy, and Qalyubia Governor Hossam Abdel Fattah, in addition to other governors who participated via video-conference.
Madbouli noted that proactive government preparations have ensured secure stock levels of strategic and basic commodities for several months, while also meeting the needs of various factories. He outlined government efforts, in coordination with the banking sector, to secure the requirements of the energy and industrial sectors.
Addressing governors, the premier emphasized the importance of intensifying field campaigns for monitoring markets and commercial outlets, coordinating with relevant ministries and regulatory authorities. He stressed the need to protect citizens from monopolistic practices and to decisively face any deliberate attempts to withhold goods, while maintaining strict market oversight to ensure availability in all outlets and retail chains in the governorate.
The prime minister referred to the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during an Iftar banquet organized by the Egyptian Military Academy, to study the possibility of referring price manipulators to military courts amid the current regional crisis. In this event, President El-Sisi stressed that current conditions should not be exploited to raise prices or engage in market manipulation.
Madbouli also said the government will accept citizen complaints through the Unified Government Complaints System at the Cabinet, encouraging immediate reporting of any market manipulation, excessive price hikes, withholding of goods, monopolistic practices, or actions affecting food safety and public health. He instructed the governors to promptly handle all complaints and take legal action against violators.
The prime minister further highlighted the need to continue electricity consumption rationalization measures, excluding factories, homes, and production facilities, while emphasizing reductions on main streets and thoroughfares. He also stressed governors' continuous personal oversight to prevent any illegal construction or encroachment on agricultural lands, with immediate removal of violations, particularly during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday period.
The local development minister noted that clear directives have been issued for provincial inspection teams to operate daily, monitoring markets to ensure the availability of goods, price stability, and to identify monopolistic practices. The supply minister said that market oversight has been intensified in coordination with directorate managers to ensure transparency in pricing. Daily reports on stock levels are submitted from all governorates, requiring close monitoring by governors, with his ministry ready to provide goods anywhere needed.
The minister also stressed attention to sales outlets, ensuring the availability of all commodities and expanding the 'One-Day Market' initiative to facilitate citizens' access to goods at fair prices. Farouk highlighted the importance of easing the transfer of goods between governorates to support farmers and help stabilize prices.