Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a high-level meeting at Obour Wholesale Market on Saturday to review food supply conditions, market operations, and government efforts to stabilise prices. He stressed the centrality of developing wholesale markets to regulate commodity flows and ensure price stability. Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber noted the market has cut post-harvest losses to 3-5%, saving EGP 1.2 billion annually.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened a high-level meeting at Obour Wholesale Market on Saturday to assess food supply conditions, market operations, and government initiatives for price stabilisation. He emphasised that developing and organising wholesale markets is essential for regulating commodity flows, enhancing supply chains, and maintaining price stability, reaffirming the government's commitment to infrastructure upgrades and stronger regulations.
Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber described Obour Market, established in 1994, as a key national project to replace informal markets, cut post-harvest losses, and ensure efficient distribution of vegetables, fruits, fish, and grains across Cairo and adjacent governorates. Covering about 300 feddans with over 2,000 shops and storage units, it operates around the clock and supports more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Modernised systems have lowered post-harvest losses from 50-60%—equivalent to roughly EGP 1.2 billion annually—to 3-5%, aligning with international standards. The market supplies daily data on prices and traded volumes, plus health, veterinary, and supply monitoring to boost transparency, curb speculation, and stabilise prices.
Saber highlighted its strategic role in increasing supply availability, reducing intermediary layers, and ensuring fair consumer pricing. Infrastructure includes dedicated trading zones, industrial areas for sorting, packing, and storage, alongside logistics and administrative services. Current upgrades cover water networks, fire safety systems, and internal roads.
Market board representatives assured Madbouly of ample key commodities, especially fruits and vegetables, while traders pledged support for state efforts amid global uncertainties. Madbouly called Obour a successful model for trade regulation and announced replication plans in other areas, including 6th of October City, with more wholesale markets in development. He stressed ensuring competitive supply, fair pricing, and strategic reserves of six months to one year, through coordinated monitoring by ministries and authorities to prevent shortages and monopolies.