Prices and why aren’t they falling fast enough was all the talking heads could discuss last night, and in a blessed change of pace after hours of complaints from The Talking Heads that prices aren’t falling in lock-step with a strengthening EGP, Trade and Industry Minister Tarek appeared with Lamees El Hadidy on Hona Al Assema to discuss the ministry’s new investment road map. Kabil also explained how the Industrial Permits Act would allow SMEs to obtain licenses by simply notifying the ministry, in a bid to reduce red tape. Temporary licenses will be issued to SMEs until the law is released, he added. Speaking on Egypt’s trade figures, Kabil said that exports were up USD 2 bn in 2016; that, combined with lower imports, saw the trade deficit fall by USD 9 bn. “In January alone, Egyptian exports soared by 23%,” he said. The trade deficit is expected to decline by 50% by 2020, the minister added (watch, runtime: 10:41).

Al Hadidy’s reporters interviewed some of the newly-appointed governors. Egypt’s first female governor, Nadia Saleh, governor of Beheira, said she will address water and sanitation issues in the governorate. “I served as deputy governor for Beheira over two terms that’s why I know the issues faced by the residents there,” she said (watch, runtime: 9:39). Ditto Alexandria’s new governor Mohamed Sultan (watch, runtime: 9:31).

Lamees then hopped on the price bandwagon, interviewing the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce’s Alaa Ezz on how a lower custom exchange rate will help reduce prices. He tells her that the impact of the reduction in the customs USD will be felt in the prices of cars, refrigerators and other appliances over the next 10-15 days. The Chambers of Commerce expect EGP to strengthen to 14-15 to the greenback by the end of April. (watch, runtime: 08:09).

Kol Youm’s Amr Adib called on traders to slash prices and offer discounts to encourage consumer spending. “The recession” (yes, it’s a fait accompli to Amr) is worsening by the day (watch, runtime: 4:55). Adib also called on Prime Minister Sherif Ismail to sit with traders to work out a plan to reduce prices. International news outlets are reporting positive forecasts about the Egyptian economy, but people can’t feel any change because of the prices, he bellowed (watch, runtime: 4:29).

On Al Hayah Al Youm, El-Saba Automotive Group’s chairman Alaa El-Saba tied himself in knots explaining to host Lobna Assal why car prices are so high (watch, runtime: 2: 26).

In non-Egypt news, Youssef Al Hosseini interviewed Libya’s Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi last week. The interview was broadcast last night on ON Live’s Bi-Tawqit Al Qahirah. Haftar is the top military commander of the internationally recognized Libyan government (watch, runtime: 50:03).