MEO – Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade struck a deal to purchase 235,000 tonnes of Russian, French and Romanian wheat, during an international bid that was held where national and international companies presented offers of an average $189.17 per tonne; provided that the provision of wheat starts on 20 February 2016 and for a period of 10 days.
Minister of Supply Dr Khaled Hanafy confirmed that this deal is to secure the strategic reserves of wheat, which will cover needs till early May 2016; to provide wheat for subsidized bread for citizens through 26,000 bakeries across the country, and to provide imported wheat needed by grinders and private sector factories at lower prices so that citizens could buy their products at affordable prices.
Hanafy said that the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) imports wheat through international stock markets according to the Egyptian standard specifications no. 1601 of the year 2005, the Codex international standard specifications no.199 for the year 1995, and ISO 7970 international standard for the year 2000. He added that the Ministry purchases wheat from several countries and not a specific one; like Russia, Romania, Canada, France, Argentina, the US, Ukraine, among others. He stated that all imported wheat are of the highest quality and lowest price, adding that all shipments entering Egypt are inspected at freight ports by international corporations, and further inspection of the wheat is carried out by joint government technical committees upon arrival at the Egyptian ports.
