New Directives Stabilize Markets, Guard Purchasing Power
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has issued comprehensive directives aimed at stabilizing national markets, preserving citizens' purchasing power, and combating speculative practices. These measures, adopted during a recent Council of Ministers meeting, were widely praised by various professional associations and economic experts as a significant step towards organizing the national market and enhancing transaction transparency. Among those expressing approval were the National Association of Traders and Artisans, the General Union of Algerian Traders and Artisans, professional associations, and the Federation of Red Meat Importers, alongside economist Professor Mourad Kouachi.
The directives include practical mechanisms designed to ensure fair market operations. These encompass a strict regulatory framework for intermediaries operating between producers and consumers, intended to control distribution channels and prevent unwarranted price increases. Furthermore, a system for capping prices and setting profit margins for essential goods such as vegetables, legumes, pasta, and meats will be implemented, considering the entire production and marketing chain. To mitigate market fluctuations, a new mechanism will allow for the local purchase and storage of surplus agricultural products, to be released into the market proactively when initial signs of price changes emerge, ensuring continuous supply and reducing waste.
A key aspect of these new measures is the modernization of commercial oversight through the establishment of a digital database. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Domestic Trade, and the High Commission for Digitization, will facilitate the daily monitoring of prices for widely consumed goods. The digital system is designed to rapidly identify abnormal price increases and enable timely intervention by relevant authorities. This proactive approach, coupled with the strengthening of price control teams and continuous daily field inspections across all wilayas, marks a shift from traditional reactive monitoring to a robust, anticipatory framework for market management.
This integrated approach aims to curb inflation and ensure a balance between the interests of producers, economic operators, and consumers. Experts highlight that these measures represent a qualitative leap, moving from conventional control mechanisms to a proactive strategy that leverages digitization and continuous field monitoring. The objective is to secure the availability of goods, control prices effectively, and ultimately safeguard the purchasing power of Algerian citizens.
