Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam received a letter from the World Bank informing him that a high-level mission from the bank will visit Beirut between July 18 and July 26, 2022. The mission aims to provide technical support to activate the emergency response project for wheat supplies specifically. It will monitor the parliamentary approval process for the project and provide support to the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to finalize the necessary requirements for the project's effectiveness, including the procurement plan, operational guidelines, and administrative agreements. Salam stated, "We are confident that this emergency project we are striving to develop and succeed will ensure stability in Lebanon's wheat imports, especially since Middle Eastern countries and Lebanon are at the forefront of a looming danger regarding wheat supply in the coming months due to the Russian-Ukrainian war. It will provide a food safety net represented by bread for citizens within a program that rationalizes and organizes support to protect consumers and maintain a subsidized price for bread amidst these dire economic conditions and low purchasing power."
He added, "The project will also contribute to developing and training management on the procurement plan, operational guidelines, and administrative agreements." He said, "We all hope that the Parliament will promptly approve this emergency project to ensure stability in the bread supply for Lebanese citizens and mitigate the repercussions of previous support policies that have burdened them, which we are unable to continue. Most importantly, we would have succeeded in presenting a civilized program with the highest international standards that addresses food and social security issues, respecting the basic living needs of Lebanese people, at least regarding their bread."
