By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Al-Masry Al-Youm
Published on 2024-01-20 11:30:38
The General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), representing the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, has set a goal to import over five million tons of wheat this year through international tenders. This is in order to produce subsidized bread for citizens who are eligible for food support.
An official document obtained by Al-Masry Al-Youm revealed that in the past year, about 4.5 million tons of wheat were imported from various sources. This includes 2.930 million tons from Russia, 780,000 tons from Romania, 360,000 tons from France, 270,000 tons from Bulgaria, and 120,000 tons from Ukraine.
Nomani Nasr Nomani, the Advisor to the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade for Supply Commodities Affairs, stated that the total consumption of wheat in the Egyptian market, both by the government and the private sector, exceeds 20 million tons annually. The local production of wheat is over nine million tons annually, with the government and private sector importing 11 million tons each year.
Nomani also noted that the private sector’s wheat imports have increased by about 10 percent compared to the government’s imports. In recent years, the private sector’s share of wheat imports has been around 45 percent, compared to 55 percent for the government via the GASC. However, in the past year, the private sector’s share increased to 55 percent, while the government’s share decreased to 45 percent.
The decrease in the government’s wheat import rates is due to the preparation of a database for citizens eligible for food support. Russia accounts for 70 percent of the wheat imported in recent years, and Egypt has up to 16 sources from which it imports wheat.
It is clear that the GASC is actively working to ensure a steady supply of wheat for the production of subsidized bread, which is essential for citizens who rely on food support. With strategic planning and international tenders, the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade aims to meet the wheat demands of the Egyptian market.
Read the original article on Egypt Independent
