CAIRO, Jan 26 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Sunday affirmed the necessity of continuing work to ease the burden on citizens and ensure sufficient reserves of commodities at affordable prices.

The president underscored the importance of continuing the implementation of presidential initiatives to support the most needy and vulnerable segments to ensure meeting people's needs, in particular throughout the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

He also emphasized the necessity of ongoing cooperation with the private sector to provide premium quality products at affordable prices.

The president made the remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, Head of the Armed Forces Financial Affairs Authority Ahmed el Shazly and Executive Director of the "Future of Egypt" Authority for Sustainable Development Bahaa el Ghannam.

The meeting addressed the strategic stockpile of commodities and food products, in coordination with Future of Egypt for Authority for sustainable development, according to Presidential Spokesman Mohamed el Shennawy.

The meeting tackled regular coordination among bodies concerned to ensure the provision of basic commodities at affordable prices and regulating markets to support people, the spokesman added.

Efforts to expand social protection networks and reform the subsidy system, through including all eligible beneficiaries and excluding those who are not entitled, were discussed during the meeting, Shennawy said.

He added that directives were issued to add beneficiaries of the "Takaful" and "Karama" programs, as well as the children of martyrs, to the restructured subsidy system.

President Sisi underlined the importance of governing the procedures of the subsidy system by adopting best mechanisms meant to ensure access of beneficiaries to services.

He emphasized the significance of turning Egypt into a regional logistics hub for the trade of strategic goods, which would strengthen its economic position on both the regional and international levels.

Meanwhile, the supply minister reviewed the status of strategic reserve of basic goods, noting that it is sufficient for six months.

President Sisi directed ensuring sustainable food security, increase the strategic reserves of goods, and strengthen market monitoring to prevent the monopoly of essential goods.

The President also called for the development of integrated policies to improve production efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance the supply chains, thus ensuring that food reaches citizens in a fair and sustainable manner and providing opportunities for the private sector to contribute to achieving price stability and improving food quality, according to the spokesman. (MENA)

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