Changes to Egypt’s tobacco licensing could end monopoly
Egyptian authorities have proposed an amendment to the terms under which tobacco companies bid for a cigarette manufacturing license. Under the new regulations, tobacco companies will be required to commit to producing 1 billion cigarettes per year, compared with the previous commitment of producing 15 billion cigarettes per year. The new requirements could end the long-standing monopoly by the state-controlled Eastern Company that currently owns 70% of the market.