Cairo: The Egyptian government has introduced a package of measures aimed at curbing rapidly growing prices in local markets, which are driven by a combination of the global supply chain interruption due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict and the elevated demand for food ahead of Ramzan, the Islamic fasting month.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last week that some foodstuff, such as wheat and poultry products, in Egypt has witnessed a drastic surge in prices on the heels of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reports Xinhua news agency.
The government has worked to secure the reserve of basic food products for six months “with reasonable prices”, the Prime Minister noted.
Madbouly added that the government will also expand the distribution of the street stalls for selling subsidised essentials, tighten the supervision on markets, and promote campaigns for raising awareness about rationalizing consumption.
“The rise of prices in Egypt is part of an inflation wave that is hitting the world,” Mohamed Mostafa, an economic expert, told Xinhua.
The government estimated that 35 per cent of Egypt’s inflation rate is related to external factors, according to the official statistics.
As the world’s biggest importer of wheat, Egypt imports 80 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine. The country is facing pressure from the surge of wheat prices in the international market.
On Sunday, the government announced that a total of 189,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia, Ukraine, and Romania will reach Egypt within days, adding it is also working to look for other sources.
On March 12, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea announced a three-month export ban on green wheat, cooking oil, corn, flour, lentil, and beans to secure citizens’ need for basic necessities and increase the supplies to prevent further surges in prices.
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi also instructed on Sunday to offer farmers additional incentives, to encourage them to deliver the largest possible amount of wheat during the agricultural season that starts amid April.
Moreover, the inflation of foodstuff is exacerbated by the rising demand ahead of the month of Ramzan.
Egypt’s Public Prosecution last week ordered to arrest 12 merchants over charges of hoarding commodities to take advantage of global inflation and the Ramzan shopping season – which starts in early April – to make a good margin.
The Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce announced that it has worked with the government to set up exhibitions, dubbed “Welcome Ramzan” across the country starting from Tuesday with discounts on all foodstuff.
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