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Polish president to discuss food crisis during three-day visit to Egypt

27.05.2022 23:00
Poland’s president is travelling to Egypt on Sunday for meetings with the country’s leaders on the Ukraine war and the resulting food crisis. 
Andrzej Duda.
Andrzej Duda.PAP/Grzegorz Momot

Andrzej Duda will be accompanied by First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

After arriving in Egypt on Sunday, Duda plans to meet with the Polish community in the capital Cairo, officials said.

During the next two days, Duda is scheduled to hold talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuli, as well as attend a Polish-Egyptian Economic Forum, among other meetings, reporters were told. 

Egypt’s food crisis

Polish presidential aide Piotr Ćwik said the discussions with Egypt’s top politicians would focus on "the food situation."

The north African country is among dozens of states that import much of their grain from Russia and Ukraine, according to the United Nations. 

“Egypt relies totally on imports from Ukraine and Russia, so now it is seeking support,” Ćwik added.

Before the war, Egypt bought some 80 percent of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia, according to the Reuters news agency.   

Poland ready to help

Poland has offered to help Ukraine export its agricultural produce. 

“I am certain this topic will be raised during the talks,” Ćwik said.  

Poland could also help alleviate the hunger caused by the war with its own exports, according to officials.

On Friday, Duda told Polish farmers: “Maybe your field crops from this year will go to Africa, to South America, to many other places where they will save lives.”      

Egypt to sell LNG to Poland?

Meanwhile, during Duda’s visit, Poland and Egypt could also “initiate talks on the sale of Egyptian liquefied natural gas to Poland,” Ćwik told reporters.

Poland looks to become independent from Russian gas in the wake of the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine.

Friday was day 93 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, prezydent.pl