bread
The decision comes after the recent government price increase of subsidized bread by 300%, to 20 piasters per loaf. This marks the first price increase in 30 years
Egyptians pay only 15% of the cost of a subsidized loaf of bread even after the 15 piasters price increase, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait told the parliament Sunday.
Prime Minister Madbouly recently emphasized the program's scale, revealing that Egypt produces approximately 100 billion loaves annually, each sold for a mere 5 piasters.
This decision was influenced by a drop in flour prices of 40 percent in March. The cost of flour decreased from EGP 26,000 to EGP 16,000.
The Supply Ministry said that such news is void of truth, the media center said in a statement on Tuesday.
Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali al-Moselhy made the statement Wednesday.
The statement pointed to the continued support for the “100 million health" initiatives to eliminate the Hepatitis C and waiting lists, raising the efficiency of hospitals, and launching the presidential initiative to increase intensive care beds and nurseries.
It added that the ministry continues to distribute subsidized loaves of bread to citizens on ration cards for five piasters without any increase.
Four days ago, Egyptian Minister of Supply, Ali Moselhi, said that Egypt had contracted to buy 180,000 tons of wheat from India, which is less than what was previously agreed upon (500,000 tons).
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade Ali al-Moselhy stated Sunday that the government mulls mixing mashed dried white sweet potato with wheat flour.
Those are coming from four countries.
Bread is a staple at Egyptian tables of all backgrounds. Thus, there are dozens of types of bread in Egypt. In Halayen and Shalatin in far southeastern Egypt, tribes make bread for which their desert environment can cater.
The decision stipulated that the sale of the bread would be 50 piasters for a 45-gram loaf, 75 piasters for a 65-gram loaf, and at LE 1 for a 90-gram, and LE 11.5 for a kilo of packaged bread.
Violators of this decision could face a fine of LE100,000 minimum and LE5 million maximum.
Subsidized “baladi” bread, Egypt’s tradition bread, is a staple at Egyptian tables and the government has sustained enormous burden to keep it affordable in a “rare case” worldwide.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi instructed the government Tuesday to set a fixed price for the unsubsidized loaf of bread putting an end to its random increase.
Some 240 feddans have been added to the wheat-cultivating plot in Egypt as a result of vertical expansion, head of the Service Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture said Sunday.
Egyptians consume 18 million tons of wheat per annum, producing around half the quantity and importing the rest.
The aid is the third shipment of the Egyptian urgent assistance to the Sudanese people, according to the statement.
The President also emphasized on developing the system of bakeries nationwide through automating the work cycle and modernizing logistical processes with the aim of improving product quality, reducing waste, and developing service for citizens.
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