CAIRO, March 25 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has underscored the need for integration and coordination among governmental bodies to offer the state's strategic needs.

The president's remarks came Tuesday during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli in the presence of the ministers of supply and agriculture and a host of respective officials.

Such coordination is necessary to contribute to achieving food security and helping Egypt occupy a better position as a regional trade hub of agricultural commodities, the president said.

Sisi also underlined the need to strike a balance between local production and market needs in order to back local farmers and producers and strengthen their competitiveness.

The meeting reviewed the government's efforts on achieving food security, offering basic commodities at reasonable prices, defending the rights of both producers and consumers and improving pricing mechanisms to control markets, Presidential Spokesman Mohammed El Shennawy said.

The meeting also discussed details on the Egyptian commodities exchange to back farmers and merchants and increase exports, in addition to reviewing updates on strategic stock of commodities and foodstuff products, El Shennawy added. (MENA)

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