We’ll be taking our value-added tax executive regulations sans salt this morning, as the Finance Ministry officially released them yesterday morning. They clarify key issues with the VAT, define sectors and industries, outline reductions and rebates, and set the status of contracts signed pre-VAT. We have more for you to peruse in the Speed Round.

It turns out that the expected World bank (WB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will be sending a mission to Egypt to assess its position in the WB’s Doing Business report, according to a statement from the Investment and International Cooperation Ministry. Minister Sahar Nasr is currently meeting with a delegation from the WB and the IFC in preparation for the visit, which is set to take place next Sunday and Monday (12-13 March), Nasr said, according to Al Masry Al Youm.

From all we’ve heard, Dubai’s Gulfood festival was a resounding success for Egypt as Egyptian food manufacturing companies signed export contracts worth over USD 200 mn, said Edita chairman Hani Berzi — who also chairs the Food Industries Export Council. He tells Al Mal. Berzi expects the food sector’s exports to increase 15% compared to last year — which reached USD 2.7 bn, according to the newspaper — buoyed by the competitiveness of Egyptian products and a weaker EGP. He adds that the council will focus primarily on African markets. Export council CEO Manar Nasr tells the newspaper that 131 companies participated in Gulfood and there are plans to increase that number by next year.

… The government should do more to help manufacturers and exporters compete against countries such as Turkey, Sakr Group for Food Industries chairman Ahmed Sakr, said. Hero Middle East and Africa’s export manager Wessam Samir believes that Egypt’s chances in the highly competitive market are good, considering the interest Hero’s products have received at Gulfood. Arma Food industries export manager Hani Fouad called for trade agreements with West African countries. He noted that his company targets a 25% increase in its exports this year from USD 80 mn last year.

Both the FABEX Middle East 2017 and the second Egypt Projects Summitwill take place today at Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Center and run through to the weekend.

** We’re off tomorrow: We are not publishing a Weekend Edition tomorrow as our families have complained we don’t see them often enough. We’ll be back at about 6:05am as usual on Sunday. Enjoy the weekend, folks!