Egypt's Al-Sisi orders government to ensure availability of basic food commodities

Egyptian President was briefed on national programme for production of high-quality seeds

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has directed the government to provide basic food commodities, and enhance the country's strategic stock.
Al-Sisi also reviewed the situation regarding the strategic stock of basic supply commodities, and the government's efforts to provide them to citizens nationwide.
The President has constantly directed efforts to provide basic food commodities and to enhance strategic stock to meet the needs of citizens in appropriate quantities and prices. This includes making them available at government and supply outlets nationwide.
Al-Sisi's remarks during a meeting, on Sunday, with: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly; Minister of Supply and Internal Trading Ali Meselhi; Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Elsayed Elkosayer; and Walid Abul-Magd, Director General of the National Service Projects Authority for the Armed Forces.
Bassam Rady, Spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency, said that the meeting also reviewed plans to develop various food industry companies, especially Qaha and Edfina.
This aims to restore their outstanding production, and to enhance the value of national products in the local market, increasing competitive capabilities, and maximising export opportunities.
Moreover, Al-Sisi was briefed on the executive steps of the national programme for the production of high-quality seeds. The review looked at production quantity, outstanding quality, and disease resistance, in partnership with advanced foreign expertise in this field.
The programme aims at developing the best varieties of local agricultural crops. Al-Sisi directed efforts to be strengthened to produce these seeds in Egypt, in order to improve the quality of agricultural production, as well as reduce the import bill.
The programme is believed to contribute to supporting the state's plan to lay the foundations for technological progress in the local agricultural production sector.
This aims to provide the best agricultural products to citizens, in accordance with the highest health and food standards and specifications.
The meeting also saw a review for a cooperation and partnership scheme with a number of countries with experience in palm oil production.
The move aims to establish a logistical zone in Egypt that specialises in refining and producing this distinctive quality of oils for the benefit of local consumption, to enhance the export opportunities.