STEPS TAKEN TO AVERT FUTURE FLOUR CRISES IN MAKKAH

People in Makkah province will not face any flour shortage in the future as authorities have taken measures to ensure adequate supply. In a statement  Saleh Al-Turki, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the joint efforts of public and private agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the General Organisation for Grain Silos and Flour Mills (GOGSFM), was successful in ending the crisis. “The flour allocation for the province has been increased from 230,000 bags to 400,000 bags weekly,” the JCCI chief said, adding that the present shortage has been solved by supplying an additional three million bags. All traders and bakeries will receive adequate amounts of flour at reasonable prices, he said. Traders involved in fraudulent practices would be punished. There are 26 food factories in Jeddah alone, which require 33,805 bags of flour weekly. The city’s 1,079 bakeries consume 142,566 bags weekly. An additional 170,000 bags, each with 45 kilograms, have been provided to meet the shortage. Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal had held a meeting with top officials in the region, including the directors of the Commerce Ministry office and GOGSFM and chairman of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss measures to counter flour crisis.