Directives were issued to heads of commercial chambers to establish at least five outlets of Ahlan Ramadan fair in each governorate, said Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi in a statement on Wednesday.

Moselhi also instructed commercial chains to set a corner for selling Ramadan goods at fixed prices.

The fairs, which usually start two weeks before Ramadan and last till the end of the month, provide different kinds of goods to citizens to meet the usually higher demand on food commodities.

The annual fairs, which are being held for the seventh year in a row, are organised in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce.

The decision to launch Ahlan Ramadan earlier than usual is the latest in a series of government efforts to ensure the availability of commodities in the market and to control prices in light of rising inflation.

In mid-December, the government said that Egypt has "a safe stock" of all basic commodities.

It also directed all shops and retailers to place price-tags on wares before the end of the month.

The government is also seeking to speed up the release of all basic and strategic imported goods that have been stranded at ports for weeks - due to foreign currency shortages - in order to increase supplies and lower prices in the local market.

Earlier this week, the government announced that it has facilitated the release of $5 billion worth of goods -- out of a total of $14 billion worth of goods -- stranded at ports between 1 and 23 December.

According to latest remarks by Prime Minister Madbouly, more goods worth $4-4.5 billion are almost ready for release to meet consumer demands during the coming four months before the advent of the holy month.