21/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The increase in oil prices and food products is set to continue and may seriously affect the populations of the poorest countries, according to the Executive Directive of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is pleading in favour of a global approach to the phenomenon. “Rice prices on the world market have increased by more than 50% this year and prices for most other foodstuffs are in net increase”, explained Dominique Strauss-Kahn in an article published on 21 April in the Financial Times. This price hike reflects the high demand from the emerging countries, but with the financial crisis, base products have also become a more attractive category of assets. The countries hit by the price increases in foods need adequate means of funding “and we are prepared to review our loan facilities to ensure that these are well-adapted to deal with the situation”, said Mr Strauss-Kahn. (A.B.)