Lebanon holds talks with Turkey, India over wheat supply crisis

Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam has met with the ambassadors of Turkey and India and discussed ways to support Lebanon during the supply crisis resulting from the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Anadolu reported.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Economy quoted Salam as saying that the meetings aimed “to complement efforts to confront the repercussions of the crisis in Ukraine, and in the interest of food security.”

“Salam has met in his office with the Indian Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr Sohel Ajaz Khan, who reassured him that India has sufficient reserve stocks to secure the quantities required for the local market,” the statement said.

“The Lebanese minister also received Turkey’s Ambassador to Beirut, Ali Baris Ulusoy and discussed with him ways through which Turkey could support Lebanon during the crisis,” the statement added.

Other meetings are expected to be held between Lebanese officials and those of other countries in the coming weeks, the statement said, as Beirut works to mitigate the wheat crisis caused by the war.

Lebanon imports all its wheat needs, amounting to about 50,000 tonnes per month. Some 60 per cent of  that comes from Ukraine and Russia.

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