Egypt's new Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi said that he will do his best in light of the current abilities and economic conditions of Egypt.
Moselhi expressed his pleasure to assume a ministerial portfolio under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, noting that it is an honor for any Egyptian citizen to take responsibility and work under the leadership of al-Sisi.
Moselhi defended himself after being attacked for assuming the new ministerial portfolio, for the fact that he was a former minister in Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif's government that has been dismissed after the popular uprising in the country on 25 January 2011.
He said: "I respect all the opinions and criticism in light of what we are seeing from political freedom which we gained after the two revolutions of the Egyptian people in 2011 and 2013. I served as a minister under former President Hosni Mubarak, and everyone knows the size of my achievements in the Ministry of social solidarity. It is only about integrity, transparency and accomplishments. "
Moselhi pointed out that he pays more interest in providing basic food commodities to citizens at affordable prices in the coming period, in light of the poor control of markets and the shortage of some commodities, which adversely affect low-income citizens. He asserted that his ministry will develop a comprehensive plan to control the market.
The ministry will work on increasing the "My Association" outlets in villages and slums, through cooperation and coordination with the social fund for development, which will allow young people to get a loan of EGP 50,000-100,000. This plan will provide job opportunities for young people, which would contribute to the elimination of the unemployment problem, and provide the needs of citizens of goods and food at reasonable prices.
The second axis is to develop consumer complexes and dissemination commercial chains to provide food commodities in various high populated regions in Greater Cairo, Delta and Upper Egypt provinces.
The third axis is based on raising the awareness of the citizen, as it will commit wholesale markets to put a bulletin of prices which will end the manipulation.
Moselhi added that the coming period will witness surprise tours to the markets in the various governorates, without specifying or prior coordination, in order to ensure the availability of goods and the suitable prices. There will be also inspection campaigns with broad participation of supply commissions and the administrative control authority.
He said: "I will not be satisfied by reports submitted to me from time to time about the state of the markets, I will visit the markets by myself to find out the reality of the situation. It came in the framework of the government and the President to ensure the adequate living conditions of citizens and expand the umbrella of social protection."
He pointed out that his ministry will complete implementation the government's plan to provide strategic reserves of food commodities for six months, after the government provided required funds and the former Minister of Supply launched its first steps.
Moselhi said that he will work in the coming period on solving the wheat issues, to avoid the problems that emerged in the last period. He added that the ministry will create more than 100 silos with different capacities, to store wheat for local usage and importing.