00:00 Ramadan in Egypt is a time of prayers, fasting and also the period of the highest average
00:05 food consumption, as Muslims break fast after sunset and consume two meals at once.
00:11 This year, a surge in food prices has led these shoppers to a government-run low-price
00:16 food fair in search of a deal.
00:19 "Flour is sold for 32 Egyptian pounds, but here it's sold for 26 pounds.
00:27 Oil is 70 Egyptian pounds, but here it's available for 50.
00:31 There's a big difference in prices.
00:33 People were waiting to receive their salaries and rush here to buy their essential commodities
00:38 because they're very expensive at the retail shops."
00:42 In February, annual urban inflation rose to over 35 percent, driven largely by a rise
00:47 in food and beverage prices, according to Katma Statistics Agency.
00:53 Food prices surged by 15.9 percent in February, up from a 1.4 percent rise in January.
00:59 And last week, the Egyptian pound lost over 60 percent of its value, falling to about
01:05 50 to the dollar from 30.85.
01:08 Hence the significance of the Welcome Ramadan Fair, jointly organised by the government
01:13 and the Chamber of Commerce, which provides free space for traders to sell their products
01:17 at cost price.
01:20 "The area here has a size of 6,000 square metres and features over 100 companies selling
01:26 strategic commodities at wholesale prices."
01:30 The drawback?
01:31 The food fair only operates during Ramadan.
01:34 For these shoppers, they can only hope that it will continue throughout the year as the
01:38 country navigates record high inflation rates.
