Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, and Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, co-chaired a meeting of the Supreme Committee for Public Shop Licenses with the participation of representatives from multiple ministries. The meeting was held in response to directives from the Prime Minister to simplify licensing procedures for industrial and commercial activities, in order to support a more investment-friendly environment.
The discussions focused on the regulations and standards for shop licenses, including specifications for local surveillance cameras, requirements for traffic studies, and civil protection conditions. The meeting also addressed the creation of an electronic system, in coordination with the Ministry of Communications, to streamline civil protection licensing procedures. Additionally, plans were made to update the Egyptian Code for the Protection of Establishments Against Fire within three months.
Dr. Manal Awad emphasized the importance of encouraging business owners to legalize their operations through easier licensing processes, aiming to integrate informal economic activities into the formal economy. She called for relaxing the conditions, reducing costs and processing times for obtaining licenses, and preparing a detailed guide outlining the steps and requirements for each type of activity.
Minister Sherif El-Sherbiny highlighted the necessity of clearly identifying the responsible authorities, required documentation, approval timelines, and related fees for shop licensing. It was agreed that technical working groups would be formed to develop proposals for simplifying licensing procedures and standardizing conditions. The final proposals will be presented in future meetings.
The committee also recommended accelerating the completion of the digital licensing system for civil protection and increasing awareness among business owners regarding the new facilitations and available incentives to help them regularize their legal status.
