Algerian Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Tayeb Zitouni, has declared war on what he described as “market infiltrators” in the national commercial market.
At a press conference held today at the headquarters of “Algeria Export”, Zitouni said that there are “parasites” who “suck the blood and pockets of Algerians” on special occasions, such as air conditioner traders in the summer. He asked why the price of air conditioners has risen after the recent rise in temperatures.
Zitouni confirmed that air conditioner manufacturers in Algeria have doubled production of this product to 800,000 units, saying: “We have self-sufficiency in air conditioners and we have started exporting them abroad.”
He added: “The rise in prices in every season makes us wonder about the reasons and who is behind these increases, and the same thing applies to mineral water, the price of a bottle of which can reach 150 or 200 dinars in coastal areas.”
The minister considered that this is part of speculation and the greed of some traders, adding: “This is also due to some conspiracies and some lobbies that want to destabilize the market.”
Zitouni clarified that there are many traders who “fear God,” stressing that they are partners in the sector in all occasions, in good times and in bad times.
The minister’s statements come amid a rise in the prices of a number of goods and services in Algeria, which has led to public discontent. Zitouni’s vow to crack down on market infiltrators is likely to be met with mixed reactions, with some welcoming his tough stance and others fearing that it could lead to a shortage of goods
