Egypt’s Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali al-Moselhi, revealed on Saturday evening that a proposal to reduce the citizen’s share of subsidized bread to three loaves of bread per day has been rejected.
Moselhi explained this proposal was raised due to fears of misuse but was rejected as it would negatively impact poorer citizens more than the middle and upper middle classes.
The best direction was to raise the price of bread from five piasters to 20 piasters, noting that the relative support in the year 2024-2025 is greater than it was in 2006.
During a telephone interview with TV host Lamis al-Hadidi on the“Last Word” (Kalema Akhera) TV show, Moselhi pointed out that the price of a loaf of bread in 2006 was five piasters, compared to the real cost of 20 piasters at that time.
He noted that the state now bears 84 percent of the cost of bread, compared to 75 percent of the cost in 2006.
The state supports the price of a loaf of subsidized bread by 84 percent, after taking into account the increase in its price to 20 piasters instead of five piasters.
The minister noted that any action taken by the government, whether through rationalizing or increasing efficiency, are solely to maintain the government’s continued support of all segments of society.
