2024-08-02 11:37:40
Composed of the Ministers of the Interior, Economy and Finance, Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Industry and Trade and the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Commission examined, during its meeting, the means of implementing the various measures necessary to meet the needs of the national market and guarantee a sufficient and regular stock of all basic products, in addition to measures aimed at preserving consumer safety and purchasing power.
In a statement to the press, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Seddiki, indicated that this meeting was devoted to the evaluation of the methods of implementation of the measures taken by the government to avoid the surge in prices, ensuring that the national market is supplied “continuously” with basic foodstuffs.
He also explained that the increase in the prices of certain food products is due, among other things, to the high cost of production as well as climatic hazards, predicting a drop in prices this spring with the abundant harvest of certain vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes.
Referring, moreover, to the balance to be achieved between the supply of the national market and exports, the minister affirmed that priority is always given to the national market as evidenced by the ban on the export of tomatoes decreed for weeks.
He also said that the control commissions will accompany the sales operations in the wholesale markets as well as the manufacturing units of certain products whose prices have soared and this, he maintains, in order to achieve an equivalence between the domestic price of the raw materials used in said products and that in force on the international market.
For his part, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Riyad Mezzour, said that this second meeting of the said commission was an opportunity to examine “the means as well as the innovative solutions likely to counter the surge in food prices with the aim of preserving the purchasing power of citizens.”
In this regard, he reported on new solutions that are being examined daily in the centers and regions, noting that the prices of some products will remain unchanged in the coming weeks and months while some prices are already starting to fall, as is the case of tomatoes.
For her part, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah assured that the products generally widely consumed in the month of Ramadan are in sufficient quantity in the national markets, noting that the volume of production expected in the coming days will certainly have a positive impact on prices.
While highlighting the efforts made by local authorities and all departments to control the markets, she, with figures to support her claim, reported the control of no less than 60,000 points of sale since the beginning of the month of Chaâbane to the 5th day of Ramadan, with the aim of combating speculation.
Similarly, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, said that this meeting was marked by the discussion of the structural reforms necessary to resolve the problems causing the rise in prices, especially in wholesale markets.
Regarding the energy component, she assured that the existing stock meets energy needs for more than 40 days, indicating that the second phase of the energy efficiency experiment will be studied until next summer, with a view to ensuring the necessary stock, including electricity.
2024-08-02 11:37:40