Local mobile phone assemblers are going to pay one less tax: The Cabinet approved in its weekly meeting exempting a 5% development fee on imported mobile phone components as part of the government’s efforts to localize the industry, it said in a statement yesterday. The exemptions also include the final product, locally manufactured parts and accessories.

You heard it here first: A government source told Enterprise last month the Finance Ministry is considering scrapping the fee.

More privatization on the way? The government reviewed an inventory on vacant and built land and untapped hangers in factories and companies affiliated with the Military Production Ministry “to examine the best way to benefit [from them] for an economic return.” The housing minister was tasked with inspecting the areas, and determining which assets could be offered to industrial investors.

Speaking of the military: The Cabinet approved a presidential decree allocating 10 feddans of state-owned land in Giza to the National Authority for Military Production to set up a waste-to-energy plant.

ALSO FROM THE MEETING:

• More relay towers: Ministers approved proposals submitted by contractors to set up relay towers for mobile phone networks in 20 governorates.
• One more chance for the informal economy: Informal projects will be given an extra year to legalize their statuses starting 6 April.
• Gosoor gets new state owner: The Public Enterprise Ministry’s El Nasr Export & Import Co (Gosoor) will have its ownership transferred to the Trade Ministry’s Egypt Expo & Convention Authority (EECA).