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.



Syria Says to be Relinked to SWIFT Payment System

A large Syrian flag is raised on a pole at Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
A large Syrian flag is raised on a pole at Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
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Syria Says to be Relinked to SWIFT Payment System

A large Syrian flag is raised on a pole at Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
A large Syrian flag is raised on a pole at Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

Syria will be fully reconnected to the SWIFT international payment system "in a matter of weeks" after more than a decade of sanctions, central bank governor Abdelkader Husrieh told the Financial Times in an interview published on Monday.

We “aim to enhance the brand of the country as a financial hub given the expected foreign direct investment in rebuilding and infrastructure — this is crucial," Husrieh said. “While significant progress has been made, there’s still much work ahead.”

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa received a major boost last month when US President Donald Trump unexpectedly lifted sanctions.

While that was a welcome step, “a full policy shift is still needed”, said Husrieh, who began his new job in April. “So far, we’ve only seen license issuance and selective sanctions removal. Implementation must be comprehensive, not ad hoc.”

According to the Financial Times, Husrieh has been working with the finance ministry on “a six to 12 month stabilization plan.” This involves reforming banking laws and the central bank, and overhauling social security and housing financing to encourage Syrians in the diaspora to invest in the country, among other initiatives.

Husrieh wants to end the Assad regime’s interventionist legacy, and restore lending capabilities, transparency and trust.

“The central bank previously micromanaged the financial system, over-regulated lending, and restricted deposit withdrawals,” he said. “We aim to reform the sector through recapitalization, deregulation and by re-establishing their role as financial intermediaries between households and businesses.”

SWIFT’s return will help encourage foreign trade, cut import costs and facilitate exports, he said. It would also bring much-needed foreign currency into the country, strengthen anti-money laundering efforts and ease the dependence on informal financial networks for cross-border trade.

“The plan is for all foreign trade to now be routed through the formal banking sector,” Husrieh said, thereby eradicating the role of money changers who would charge 40 cents of every dollar that came into Syria. He said banks and the central bank have been assigned Swift codes, and the “remaining step is for correspondent banks to resume processing transfers.”

Foreign investment will also be shored up by guarantees, he said. While the public banking sector is already fully backed by the government, Husrieh is looking to establish a state institution to guarantee private banks’ deposits.