Baabda: President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received Economy and Trade Minister, Amer Bisat, at the Presidential Palace, where discussions focused on measures to ensure food security and the availability of essential goods amid the country's current circumstances.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Bisat briefed the president on steps taken by the ministry to safeguard food supplies. He stressed that stocks of essential goods, including flour, food products, and fuel, remain available at high levels, ensuring food security for several months. Bisat also mentioned that imports are continuing without interruption and consumed stock is being continuously replenished. He noted a decline in panic buying following reassurance about the availability of goods.
Bisat pointed to logistical challenges, emphasizing that, while supplies exist, ensuring their delivery to consumers remains a priority. Coordination is ongoing between ministries and security agencies to address these challenges. He acknowledged price increases for some goods due to security conditions and global price rises, particularly for fuel, but stressed that authorities will not allow exploitation or unjustified inflation.
The Minister stated that inspection teams have intensified field checks in coordination with security forces and the judiciary. Measures have been taken against violators, including the closure of fuel stations and shops manipulating prices. He also noted that fuel prices are set according to an official mechanism based on the average of global prices in recent days, and any external decrease would be automatically reflected in local prices.