Baghdad:Trade Minister Mustafa Nizar Al-Ani emphasized that securing food is essential to national sovereignty.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Al-Ani stated that achieving national sovereignty extends beyond political and security independence to include securing citizens’ basic needs, particularly food, which is crucial for national security and economic and social stability.

The Iraqi government, led by Ali Al-Zaidi, prioritizes food security by implementing policies to secure basic foodstuffs, enhance strategic reserves, and ensure the continuous provision of food basket items to citizens. These efforts aim to protect Iraqi families’ livelihoods and address economic challenges and global market fluctuations.

The ministry is pivotal in applying government policies through specialized companies that manage wheat and grain supplies, secure foodstuffs, develop storage and distribution mechanisms, monitor local market activity, and curb price increases to ensure market stability and protect citizens’ purchasing power.

Progress in food security highlights the importance of advance planning, diversifying import sources, and boosting domestic production by supporting farmers and marketing their crops, reducing reliance on external sources, and strengthening Iraq’s ability to face emergencies.

Al-Ani stressed that true national sovereignty is achieved when the state can protect its people’s interests and secure their basic needs. He emphasized the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance its institutional performance and modernize the trade, storage, and distribution system in alignment with the government program to bolster citizens’ trust in state institutions.

He concluded by affirming that food security is integral to national sovereignty, and ensuring the daily sustenance of Iraqis is a responsibility the government and the Ministry of Trade are committed to upholding.