Cigarette prices to increase THE PRICE of cigarettes will increase next month. All cigarette brands will increase by as much as 50 piastres (half an Egyptian pound). The increase comes under new ceilings on the taxable price brackets introduced two years ago, Eastern Company CEO Hani Aman said during a TV phone interview on Saturday. The total increase on local and imported cigarettes breaks down to 25 piastres in the health insurance law tax and 25 piastres in value-added tax. The health insurance law stipulates that there will be a tax of 25 piastres every three years on cigarettes. Eastern Company, established in 1920, operates within the food, beverage, and tobacco sector. The company recorded an increase in profits during the first seven months of the fiscal year 2020-21 by 17 per cent to reach LE2.9 billion, compared to LE2.52 billion last year.
Real estate ID PRIME Minister Mustafa Madbouli held a meeting on Sunday to follow up on steps taken to set up a real estate national ID system. According to Madbouli, the system aims to safeguard the ownership by citizens of real estate and maximise benefits from it, in addition to eliminating unlicensed construction and slums. Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amr Talaat said the plan will raise the efficiency of services provided to citizens, maximising the economic return of real estate and raise the state's ranking in global indicators. The ID system will be ready to start in Port Said governorate next month, according to official statements. More than 35,000 plots of land, 23,000 buildings, and 5,088 streets have been registered in Port Said, which will act as a model.
No bird flu THE CABINET has denied social media accounts of the emergence of a new bird flu strain in Egypt. The Ministry of Agriculture also confirmed in a statement that there have been no recorded cases of H10 bird flu strain in any of the country's governorates. The ministry stressed that its investigation committees are intensifying campaigns at poultry farms and markets in all governorates to identify any diseases affecting fowl. The ministry added that examinations of birds are conducted regularly to ensure their safety. The World Organisation for Animal Health officially listed Egypt among the countries whose facilities are free from avian flu, the ministry said. According to the ministry statement, vaccination campaigns against avian influenza and other widespread diseases are being implemented in various governorates of the country. Safety certificates have been issued to farms that comply with safety measures with the aim of combating diseases in poultry.
Combating corruption EGYPT participated in a UN anti-corruption session in New York which discussed international measures aimed at preventing and combating corruption. Egypt affirmed its adoption of strict anti-corruption policies which include the principles of the rule of law while highlighting accountability and transparency. Mohamed Idris, Egypt's permanent representative to the UN, said the high-level Egyptian participation comes as part of the country's keenness to strengthen efforts to combat corruption "that undermines any efforts to achieve development".
*A version of this article appears in print in the 10 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
