Egypt proposes grain logistics hub in East Port Said
Egypt has proposed the creation of a logistics hub for BRICS grains in the East Port Said area, with the aim of strengthening food security and supporting trade, industrial, and investment cooperation among the group's member states. The proposal was presented by the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, during the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting underway in New Delhi, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The BRICS group currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (the initials of which form the acronym), in addition to new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, which joined the group in 2024, and Indonesia, which joined in 2025. Abdelatty said that Cairo aims to "further intensify economic cooperation" among the BRICS countries, supporting the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) and promoting joint projects in the energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and advanced technologies sectors.
According to the Egyptian minister, the grain logistics hub project in East Port Said could help strengthen food supply chains among the group's members, leveraging Egypt's strategic location along the Suez Canal. The Egyptian diplomat also addressed the issues of global economic reform and the United Nations Security Council, reiterating Cairo's support for the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration as benchmarks for Africa's position on the continent's representation in the Security Council.
In his remarks, Abdelatty also drew attention to tensions in the Middle East, arguing that regional escalation is negatively impacting maritime security, global supply chains, and energy and food prices. The minister reiterated Egypt's support for the security of Gulf Arab countries and stated that "diplomatic solutions and peaceful agreements" represent "the only path" to ensuring stability in the region. Regarding the Palestinian issue, Abdelatty condemned Israeli operations in the occupied Palestinian territories and called for the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to quickly begin reconstruction of the enclave.