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Egypt: Wheat Reserves are Sufficient After Russia's Withdrawal from Grain Agreement

The Egyptian government meeting (Egyptian cabinet)
The Egyptian government meeting (Egyptian cabinet)
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Egypt: Wheat Reserves are Sufficient After Russia's Withdrawal from Grain Agreement

The Egyptian government meeting (Egyptian cabinet)
The Egyptian government meeting (Egyptian cabinet)

The Egyptian government has reassured citizens about the wheat reserves after Russia suspended the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Ali al-Mosilhy, said Egypt's strategic wheat reserves are sufficient for five months of consumption.

Moselhi criticized Russia's withdrawal from the UN grain-export deal, saying Egypt was not pleased.

He explained that transport, logistics, and cargo insurance are the most affected sectors.

The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the 16th session of the General Assembly of the intra-Africa metrology system (AFRIMETS).

He admitted the withdrawal would impact Egypt and other African countries, especially since many states had difficulty importing wheat.

Mosilhy expected an 8-percent global hike in the price of a ton of wheat, pointing out that the Egyptian government would bear any price differences and it would not affect the citizen.

He pointed out that Egypt started signing agreements with India to import wheat and sugar, explaining that Egypt was keen on having multiple wheat sources, including France, Germany, Romania, US, and Bulgaria.

The Minister noted that the local wheat supply amounted to 3.8 million tons.

Meanwhile, agricultural expert Ashraf Kamal believes maintaining a safe strategic wheat stock is essential.

Kamal told Asharq Al-Awsat that wheat stocks have declined globally after the supply chain and Russian-Ukrainian war crises.

Russia and Ukraine represent about 30 percent of global grain exports.

He explained that the state must follow two main paths to ensure wheat strategic reserve: diversifying the supply sources and wheat origins and increasing self-sufficiency.

Following presidential directives, the Egyptian state is moving to provide remunerative wheat prices by increasing the cost of last year's cultivated ardeb.

The state also introduced new areas planted with wheat, said the expert, pointing out that the Ministry of Supply aimed to purchase more than 4 million tons of grain from Egyptian farmers this season.

Kamal asserted that the government must continue supporting farmers, increasing the state's purchase prices and announcing it well before the planting season.

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Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
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Lebanese President Faces Domestic, Foreign Challenges

Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS
Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun poses for a picture with his family at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

The election of a new president in Lebanon does not mean the country has come out of the economic and political crises which have gutted it for years. Yet Thursday’s vote marks the beginning of a new phase that carries many challenges for the president and the upcoming government.

It is Joseph Aoun’s responsibility now to appoint a prime minister following binding parliamentary consultations and then form the Cabinet together with the PM.

According to observers, Aoun’s term should carry a roadmap to salvage the country, and a clear plan to address crises and domestic and foreign challenges.

However, there is no magic wand to solve Lebanon’s entire crises.

Instead, Aoun needs a unified working team that should draft a clear ministerial statement that reflects the President’s inaugural speech and his pledge of a “new era” for Lebanon.

“The president's speech constitutes a detailed program for governance. However, his program needs a cabinet capable of implementing it,” former Minister Ibrahim Najjar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Najjar described the new President as an honest, clean and courageous Lebanese man.

“His election must be followed by the formation of a bold cabinet with new faces, capable of working and making achievements,” he said.

“The Lebanese people expect President Aoun to change the quota-based mentality of politicians. They hope his term will help remove old political figures, who are rooted in the Lebanese quagmire,” the former minister noted.

Former MP Fares Souaid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s first task is to implement the Constitution and the National Accord document.

“In the early 1990s, the Constitution was no longer being implemented due to the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 2005, the Constitution was again ignored because of Iranian arms.”

Therefore, Soueid said, the Lebanese eagerly expect this new era to constitute a real opportunity for the implementation of both documents.

For years, Lebanon has failed to properly implement its Constitution and UN resolutions, mainly because some political parties had considered their implementation as “a target against their so-called resistance.”

“With the election of President Joseph Aoun, Lebanon has opened a blank page that could meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people, and write a new chapter in the country’s history,” Najjar said.

According to Soueid, Aoun has a task to return Lebanon to its Arab identity. “This is slowly beginning to show through the decline of Iranian influence in the region,” he said.

Also, Soueid said, the new President should mend Lebanon’s relations with the international community by implementing all UN resolutions.

Addressing Parliament and Lebanese people with an acceptance speech, Aoun on Thursday vowed that the Lebanese authorities will have the monopoly on arms and will be committed to a strong state that will extend its sovereignty over the entire territory.

“This is in line with UN resolutions, which if implemented, will bring Lebanon back to the Arab and international scene,” Soueid said.