Potatogate: Egypt competition watchdog raids Agriculture Export Council: Officials from the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) and the police raided the offices of the Agriculture Export Council on allegations of “monopolizing agriculture exports and involvement in raising the price of potatoes,” according to a statement on Thursday by the ECA (pdf). The ECA did not reveal the details of the investigation or the raid, except to say that it was prompted by complaints from farmers that a group of exporters that are members of the council had engaged in anti-competitive behaviour. The statement did not explain how these members were involved in the recent spike in the price of potatoes currently causing hysteria in the nation.

ECA also investigates Damietta transport companies: The ECA had also brought lawsuits against a number of transportation and freight companies in Damietta, accusing them of colluding to fix freight prices, the statement said.

Business associations to ECA: Miami Vice called, and it wants its script back: A number of business associations issued statements on Thursday condemning what they describe as “heavy-handed” tactics by the ECA. The Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (known by the unfortunate acronym FEDCOC) and the Egyptian Businessmen’s Association also denounced previous ECA raids on several member divisions of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce in Cairo and Alexandria. The statements said the competition watchdog’s tactics were hurting the investment climate and discouraging exporters. The EBA described the move as “irresponsible,” Youm7 reports.