Market Stability Efforts Praised by Algerian Business Group
The National Association of Merchants and Artisans (ANCA), led by Tahar Boulanouar, has expressed appreciation for the comprehensive decisions adopted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's government. These measures focus on regulating the market and curbing the rise in prices of essential foodstuffs, a move Boulanouar described as significant. He anticipates these actions will have a positive impact on the national market, contributing to stability in supply and pricing in the near future.
Among the key initiatives highlighted is the establishment of a mechanism designed for purchasing and storing surplus local agricultural products. This stored produce is intended to be released onto the market upon the first signs of price increases, thereby stabilizing citizens' purchasing power and effectively halting inflationary trends. This system is also expected to benefit farmers and producers by ensuring a reliable outlet for their products, preventing spoilage and encouraging sustained production.
Further government directives include the immediate implementation of daily monitoring measures for the availability and pricing of essential consumer goods across the country. Additionally, instructions have been given to draft a strict regulatory framework for the activities of intermediaries operating between producers and consumers. The Prime Minister has been tasked with launching an immediate investigation into the potentially negative role played by certain importers in monopolizing and inflating prices for imported meats, as well as scrutinizing butchers who market imported meat at local prices. The Ministry of Commerce is also set to develop a system for capping prices and defining profit margins for a range of items including vegetables, legumes, pasta, and meats, taking into account the entire production and marketing chain. The ANCA has also supported the modernization of oversight bodies through digitalization, a proposal it has advocated for previously.
