[00:02] food rationing system, and it also concerns every household in Egypt. We received many messages on the program's official page asking, " Guys, the smart card in the food rationing system means the shift from in-kind support of goods, etc., to cash support, and
[00:16] how will this work?" So today we have a very special guest, the journalist and writer, Mr. Salah Amer, who journalist and writer, Mr. Salah Amer, who specializes in the food rationing file. He will be with us in a few moments, God willing. The truth is, the food rationing file is a file that concerns every household in Egypt.
[00:32] Today, the food rationing file concerns everyone in their family or household who is used to, or is accustomed to, the idea that their salary today is enough for one to three hours, and they always take into account, as a basic principle, that the rations they receive, whether goods, bread, etc., are what they call the
[00:48] bread, etc., are what they call the support in the house. This is a very important part. People hear about it in the news, people hear about it in programs, people hear about it in statements, but people need to understand what is going on and where it is headed.  So, I was suspended from
[01:02] the card. Will I get it back or not? What's the issue and what are the details? What about the issue of converting issue and what are the details? What about the issue of converting subsidies from the idea of ​​goods and bread and so on to cash support? I wo n't be able to live without it because of inflation or so on. Or, today something costs a piaster, but tomorrow it will be I don't
[01:17] know how much. I won't be able to buy the same value consistently, the same thing I used to get. All of these are consistently, the same thing I used to get. All of these are fears, all of them. And we are on the program "Connecting Link," as we have accustomed you to, a link between the citizen and the decision-maker. That's why we have with us
[01:32] the journalist, Mr. Salah Amer, who specializes in the twin file. Good evening, sir. What's the news?  Welcome, everyone, and welcome to our viewers. Happy New Year! To begin, I'd like to know the latest updates on the implementation of the unified card system and the status of
[01:48] ration cards. We want to clarify for our viewers today... Of course, our viewers today... Of course, I thank you very much for this very important question, which I thank you very much for this very important question, which concerns many people in society, especially ration
[02:02] concerns many people in society, especially ration card holders. The card holders. The unified card system has indeed been implemented in unified card system has indeed been implemented in Port Said Governorate. The advantages of the unified card are that it
[02:14] Port Said Governorate. The advantages of the unified card are that it replaces the need to collect multiple cards, replaces the need to collect multiple cards, especially since it includes especially since it includes health insurance services. The ration card is
[02:28] health insurance services. The ration card is
[02:41] issued free of charge, which significantly reduces the need for subsidized goods and closes the doors to reduces the need for subsidized goods and closes the doors to corruption within the system. Actually, your voice isn't clear, Mr. Salah. The issues are real.
[02:55] Your voice isn't clear, sir. This experiment in Port Said Governorate will be rolled out across all This experiment in Port Said Governorate will be rolled out across all governorates of the Republic. Mr. Salah, could we please move to a place with better reception? The sound is cutting out and not clear. We
[03:11] want the viewers to hear every detail, every movement you make, so we need clearer audio. Can you hear Your voice is cutting out, sir. Please move to a place with better reception.
[03:28] Yes, it's just because I'm on the side of the road, so I'm speaking to you with better reception. God willing, you will do better. As I told you, the unified driver system is one of the good things the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has implemented to apply this new system. Of course, the
[03:46] driver system is one of the important things the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has done, especially since it reduces Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has done, especially since it reduces the cost and at the same time the cost and at the same time ensures that the subsidies reach the young people who deserve them. It
[04:06] This is an important point, and this is the question I was asking you. People on the street are talking about this issue, some with fears and others who see it positively. We want to clarify  For the see it positively. We want to clarify  For the average citizen listening to us today, how will the shift from
[04:19] in-kind to cash subsidies affect them, and how will the process work? Some citizens are apprehensive about this direction, while others favor it. We want to address both We want to address both sides and both viewpoints.
[04:31] I encourage you to ask this very important question, one that concerns everyone. Before discussing the transition from in-kind to cash subsidies, there are
[04:44] challenges. These challenges must be linked to inflation rates These challenges must be linked to inflation rates
[04:57] and include the government's commitment to ensuring the availability of goods, reducing prices in local markets, and considering the social dimension, particularly for those with limited incomes. It also requires social dimension, particularly for those with limited incomes. It also requires
[05:14] oversight of local markets. Why? Because even when implementing the shift from in-kind to cash subsidies, even when implementing the shift from in-kind to cash subsidies, intensive monitoring is necessary to guarantee the intensive monitoring is necessary to guarantee the availability of goods and ensure
[05:26] availability of goods and ensure price reductions, especially in consumer complexes and price reductions, especially in consumer complexes and outlets of the General Company for Wholesale Trade and the Egyptian Company for Trade in the Lower and Upper Egypt governorates.
[05:38] The monkey, and as for the shift from in- kind support to cash, it gives me the freedom to kind support to cash, it gives me the freedom to spend. It's
[05:50] spend. It's
[06:09] They'll be converted to cash support, say 10 piasters. 10 piasters today gets me one, two, or three piasters, but after six months, it won't get me the same amount." So the citizen is apprehensive about this direction. I want you to answer the citizen's question. I mean, I'm telling you that cash support
[06:27] mean, I'm telling you that cash support in itself closes the door to manipulation on one in itself closes the door to manipulation on one hand, and secondly, the support, in other words, limits the hand, and secondly, the support, in other words, limits the distribution stages from the producer to the
[06:40] consumer directly, reducing them according to the distribution, especially the subsidy on flour. We need, Mr. Salah, we need your help.  A full episode is needed
[06:52] because this topic is extremely important and the sound quality isn't ideal, so I'd like your permission to join us in an episode we can coordinate the time for, as this is a top priority for the citizen who needs to understand every detail. All thanks, greetings, and appreciation to
[07:07] All thanks, greetings, and appreciation to the journalist Salah Amer, specialist in the supply file. This was indeed a very important topic, and we will discuss it in