The Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, denied that Lebanon was on the verge of a wheat or loaf crisis, or that subsidies had been lifted from the bundle of bread. In a radio interview, he said, “Mills, bakeries, and merchants talk regarding their pain and suffering in these difficult circumstances, but no matter how financially we stumble, the citizen’s livelihood cannot be manipulated. It is true that the Russian-Ukrainian war had an impact on the wheat crisis, but the reserves serve us for a month and we are working to open credits with the World Bank. With a value of 150 million dollars to import wheat.
He concluded, stressing that “wheat is available, and no decision has been taken to lift subsidies on wheat, and the citizen’s livelihood is the basis and above all considerations.”
He said, “There are no pending approvals in the Ministry of Economy regarding the subsidized wheat, and the Minister of Finance signed the opening of the credit for $21 million, and therefore the amount of wheat and flour is sufficient for the market’s needs for the holidays.”
The position of the Minister of Economy was in denial of the news that indicated that the mills had not yet obtained approval from the Ministry of Economy for the subsidized wheat to be sent to the Banque du Liban to open credits, which threatens to enter into a loaf crisis during the feast because the Banque du Liban will be closed during the holiday.
