Egypt Calls for Increasing Response to Food Security Challenges in Developing Countries

Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat, at the Investing in Net Zero: Leading the Way conference (Ministry of International Cooperation)
Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat, at the Investing in Net Zero: Leading the Way conference (Ministry of International Cooperation)
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Egypt Calls for Increasing Response to Food Security Challenges in Developing Countries

Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat, at the Investing in Net Zero: Leading the Way conference (Ministry of International Cooperation)
Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat, at the Investing in Net Zero: Leading the Way conference (Ministry of International Cooperation)

Egypt has called for boosting the response to the food security challenges in developing countries.

The Foreign Ministry said Egypt submitted a draft resolution to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on enhancing the organization's response to food security challenges in developing, net food-importing countries, and least developed countries.

The draft resolution will be discussed at WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (M12), held in Geneva between June 12 and 15.

Egypt's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ahmed Ihab Gamaleddin, said Egypt submitted the resolution on behalf of the Arab and African groups and the least developed countries after intensive consultations with member states.

The draft resolution is part of the Egyptian government's efforts to deal with the global economic crisis and its impact on food security in developing countries, in general, and Egypt.

The resolution aims at securing practical solutions for farmers and food producers and boosting grain production in these countries during the crisis, following the relevant rules of the WTO.

It also calls for spreading awareness about the severe harm caused to developing countries' economies by the record rise in food and energy prices.

Gamaleddin said the current global food crisis is part of a more significant crisis the world economy has been facing since the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in economic growth, high inflation rates, disruption of global supply chains, and huge debts.

The diplomat said it requires enhancing international solidarity through the relevant international organizations, chief among which is the WTO.

He added that solidarity should grant the net food-importing developing countries and LDCs the flexibility to deal with exceptional circumstances that impact their food security.

Meanwhile, the Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat, said that strengthening climate action, combating the negative repercussions of climate change, and reducing harmful emissions, will only come through constructive partnerships between relevant parties.

Mashat was speaking at a forum organized by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European University Institute (EUI) on Investing in Net Zero: Leading the Way to discuss investments needed to attain net zero emissions and the European Union's global leadership in mobilizing the necessary climate finance.

Mashat explained that, through its presidency of COP27, Egypt seeks to build on what has been achieved in Glasgow, reiterate the importance of achieving the principles of the Paris Climate Agreement and other climate agreements, and push global efforts aimed at reaching the transition to a green economy.



South Korea Seeks Omani Support on Oil, LNG

FILE PHOTO: People walk on a zebra crossing in front of the buliding of Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, July 14, 2016.  REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk on a zebra crossing in front of the buliding of Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
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South Korea Seeks Omani Support on Oil, LNG

FILE PHOTO: People walk on a zebra crossing in front of the buliding of Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, July 14, 2016.  REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk on a zebra crossing in front of the buliding of Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday asked his ⁠Omani counterpart for support ⁠on crude oil ⁠and LNG supplies, Cho's office said, due to shipment disruptions linked to the ⁠conflict ⁠in the Middle East.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Cho made the request during a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted global energy supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s chokehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy.


QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure on LNG Contracts

QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
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QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure on LNG Contracts

QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. (Reuters)

QatarEnergy declared on Tuesday force ‌majeure ‌on some ‌of ⁠its affected long-term ⁠LNG ⁠supply contracts, ‌with ‌counterparties including ‌customers in ‌Italy, Belgium, ‌South Korea, and ⁠China.

It said it was ‌continuing ‌to assess ‌the ⁠full impact of ⁠these recent events on its operations.

It added that it was assessing the impact ⁠and repair ‌timeline ‌for damaged facilities.

Missile ‌attacks on QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan production ‌hub on March 18 and 19 ⁠⁠caused significant damage.


Saudi Arabia Says World Economic Forum Postpones Jeddah Meeting

A World Economic Forum (WEF) logo. AFP
A World Economic Forum (WEF) logo. AFP
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Saudi Arabia Says World Economic Forum Postpones Jeddah Meeting

A World Economic Forum (WEF) logo. AFP
A World Economic Forum (WEF) logo. AFP

The World Economic Forum ⁠has postponed its Global ⁠Collaboration and Growth Meeting, originally ⁠set for April 22–23 in Jeddah, following consultations with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and ⁠Planning, citing ⁠current regional developments.

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim stressed in January the need for sustained dialogue to accelerate global growth, calling on participants to engage actively in the meeting.

The Ministry of Economy and Planning affirmed Tuesday that the Kingdom has made comprehensive preparations to host the meeting and remains fully equipped to convene it, reflecting its continued role as a global platform for dialogue and agenda setting.

Building on its proven track record of convening major international gatherings, including the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh in 2024, the ministry said it looks forward to hosting the Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting at a date to be announced in due course.

The World Economic Forum said: “The Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting will serve as a leading platform for shaping constructive global dialogue. Following coordination between the World Economic Forum and the Ministry of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia, it has been agreed to reschedule the meeting to maximize its global impact.”