President
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli,
Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture
and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk, Presidential Advisor for Urban Planning Amir
Sayed Ahmed, and Head of the Future of Egypt Authority for Sustainable
Development Bahaa El-Ghannam.
Presidency Spokesman
Mohammad El-Shennawi stated that the meeting reviewed the government’s efforts
to activate the Egyptian Commodity Exchange to achieve its strategic goals,
which include achieving food security, ensuring a sustainable supply of
essential goods at affordable prices, and protecting both producers and
consumers. This is in addition to supporting the local agricultural and
industrial sectors, and enhancing market transparency by regulating commodity
pricing and trading mechanisms.
The discussion
focused on the specifics of the Egyptian Commodity Exchange, including its role
in facilitating the import and export of agricultural commodities, processed
food, feed, fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary medicines, in order to
improve integration and food security and streamline related mechanisms.
The Commodity
Exchange is also expected to support farmers and traders by facilitating market
access, reducing supply chain complexities, and benefiting small-scale
producers through new operational frameworks.
Additionally, it
will unify export and import policies under one umbrella, boost Egypt’s trade
performance, and foster a new generation of exporters by providing promotional
and logistical support.
The meeting reviewed
successful international experiences in the management of commodity exchanges,
and ways to benefit from best practices to ensure the regulation of the
domestic markets.
Discussions also
tackled ways to leverage available infrastructure, such as modern silos and
advanced storage refrigerators so as to reduce waste and ensure product
quality.
Furthermore, the
strategic stock of essential goods was examined in coordination with the Future
of Egypt Authority. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining secure
reserves of key commodities and expanding Egypt’s food supply capacity,
particularly for strategic goods.
President Sisi
emphasized the vital importance of collaboration and integration among the
various government authorities to meet the state’s strategic needs, thereby
achieving food security and strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional hub
for agricultural commodity trade.
The President also
stressed the need to align local production with market demands so as to
empower local farmers and producers and boost their competitiveness.
Source: The Egyptian
Gazette