Coll 15/5 'EGYPT British community in Egypt: problems of post-war reconstruction' [‎27r] (53/68)

complete their technical education hy going chrough
shops of leading Engineering firms there. It is urged
that a similar scheme should he set on foot in Egypt under
the auspices of the British Council, and tnat subsidies
should he given to help the poorer students of the proposed
British Technical Commercial College to avail unemselves ox
this opportunity. It is suggested that such subsidies should
he given on a selective competitive basis, in order^ co secure
the best students, who are likely to turn their training to
the best advantage both from their own point of view and that
of British trade.
31. No review of the immediate post-war situation of
British trade would be complete without considering the
influence thereon of the two important Institutions that have
come into existence during the war, and which now exercise such
an important control over local commerce, viz: the Middle East
Supply Centre and the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation. It
is not known what is the policy of HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. with regard to cnese
Institutions after the war period, but it is considered that if
'•/ they are maintained in existence they could be of considerable
help to British trade in Egypt. It is certain that after the
conclusion of hostilities there will be very large stocks of
surplus goods in the hands of the U.K.C.C. and the Military
Authorities both in Egypt and elsewhere. The U.K.C.C. could
r?ive o-reat help to British traders by controlling the disposal
of the former,‘and the M.E.S.C. by allocating and arranging ^or
the shipping to Egypt of such of the latter as the Egypoian
c ‘ ■ xarket could acceptor disposal here, also under the control of
the U.K.C.C. The object of the control of the U*K.C. C. would
p- \ be to release these goods in such a manner as go avoid^ flood
ing the market, or damaging other British trade, and oais
could best be achieved by staggering their release over ohe
period which must elapse before British manufacturers can supply
new goods for the market. The retail sales of all such goods
should be through British firms or Agents, either as agents of^
the U.K.C.C. or buying from the U.K.C.C. for resale onJ:heir own
account. In particular, as suggested in paragraph 11 ox this
Reeort, local small tradesmen, e.g. grocers, who have had co
liquidate their stocks on mobilisation, should be re-scocked ^
where possible by the U.K.C.C. at the earliest possible momeno.
32. In order that the U.K.C.C. may have before them, in
carrying out the programme suggested above, the fullest available
knowledge of local markets and requirements, they should acb in
the closest collaboration with the British Chambers ox Commerce,
and even perhaps coopt certain representatives of oaese Ghamoers
to advise them. As soon as the moment has arrived when Bricis
manufacturers have returned to peace-time conditions, and are able
to supply the market with new goods on a sufficient sc ^lQ, eioner
generally or in any particular line, the U.K.C.C. should^drop o
and allow the British and Dominion firms to deal direct throu^n
their agents in Egypt. Even thereafter it might be possible for
the M.E.S.C. to help British trade by so organising international
exchanges of commodities as to create reciprocal conditions
favourable to the sale of British goods in Egypt.
33. As a further practical measure for the encouragement of
Anglo-Egyptian commercial exchanges it is recommended that a
permanent British Trade Exhibition should be established in ^
suitable building in Cairo, for the primary purpose ox advertising
British and Dominion goods suitable for the Egyptian marxet. l
♦ is suggested that an appropriate name for such an Institution
would/
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