 HCFI is a state owned Egyptian Joint Stock Company, incorporated in 1991 under the law 203 with authorized capital of LE 6Bil and paid-in capital of LE 3.02Bil in 2005.  Main activities: - Operating in all local and external trading activities. - The establishment of affiliated companies and the participation in other joint stock companies either alone or in co-operation with other companies.  The company has now participation in about 40 companies, namely 22 subsidiaries, 12 affiliates, and 6 other joint stock companies as follows: 1. 22 subsidiaries: - 8 companies operate in the field of food industries. - 7 companies operate in the field of food supplies distribution. - 6 companies operate in the field of cereals milling as well as the production and storage of flour. - 1 company operates in the field of rice milling and marketing. The number of affiliates was increased in year 1999 by the number of affiliates of the Holding Co. for Rice & Flour Mills, as the two holding companies merged according to a ministerial decree in 5/12/1999. 2. 12 affiliates : All companies are working in the foodstuff market (flour mills, oil and rice milling). They operate under the law 159 for year 1981. 3. 12 other joint stock companies : These companies operate in the fields of (sugar industry, paper activity, & wood activity, packaging activity and milling activity). They operate under the law 8 for year 1997.