Supply Minister: Safe reserves of strategic goods to meet long-term demands

CAIRO, Feb 19 (MENA) - Supply Minister Aly el Moselhi said Wednesday that about 72 million citizens benefit from the ration cards system, which is a main factor of food safety particularly for most-in-need segments.

In an interview with MENA board chairman and editor- in-chief Aly Hassan, Moselhi said his Ministry acts to secure strategic reserves of basic commodities atop of which wheat, sugar, oil, rice, macaroni, meat, chicken and fish.

This is meant to maintain a stable market at times of global slumps, Moselhi said.

He touched upon a plan to secure strategic reserves for not less than three months.

Egypt's strategic reserves of wheat, for example, should be sufficient for more than four months, the minister said.

He also cited reserves of sugar that are expected to meet citizens' demands for more than five months.

Moselhi added that the strategic reserves of oil will be enough for over three months.