Belarus’ MART steers 55% of consumer prices – minister
<p> MINSK, Apr 15 - PrimePress. The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART) of Belarus regulates 55% of consumer prices, MART chief Vladimir Koltovitch told at a press conference on April 15. </p> <p> </p> <p> “We regulate 55% of consumer prices. This is a temporary order (limiting the prices of socially important goods in accordance with government resolution #100 of Feb 23, 2021 – editor’s note), which was designed to reduce the inflationary surge in connection with the introduction of VAT and rising world prices for food and raw materials. This is a delicate task, because we have to solve a threefold problem - to ensure the financial stability of companies - producers, traders, importers, to ensure the availability of goods on the shelf, and not to worsen the situation with payments for goods supplied. The main tasks are to control prices and work with the foodstuffs,” Koltovich said. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, the question of the cost of food imports is particularly relevant at the moment. “We cannot be aloof from this process if Russia sets higher export duties on vegetable oil today, increasing them from 30% to 50% as of June 1. The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Kazan on April 30 will discuss non-synchronized actions by EEU member states in terms of food provision,” Koltovitch said. </p> <p> </p> <p> He said that according to the statistics, the global food index was 118.5%, which is the highest level in the last 14 years. “In this regard, the second task of the Ministry is to provide consumers with goods, stability in this matter and, of course, control activities in all directions,” said Koltovitch. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported with reference to government resolution #100, the Belarusian authorities restricted the growth of prices of essential goods to no more than 0.2% per month from March 1, 2021. The list includes 62 kinds of foods and consumer goods and 50 kinds of medicines produced in Belarus. Belarus’ inflation was 0.7% in March 2021 and 3.8% in January-February. By the end of 2021, the authorities are planning inflation at the level of 5% per annum. </p> <p> </p> <p> Koltovich admitted that resolution #100 of 23 February 2021 contributed to a month-on-month decrease in the prices of socially important goods by 0.1% in March 2021. End </p>
2021-04-16
Primepress
Belarus’ MART steers 55% of consumer prices – minister
MINSK, Apr 15 - PrimePress. The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART) of Belarus regulates 55% of consumer prices, MART chief Vladimir Koltovitch told at a press conference on April 15.
“We regulate 55% of consumer prices. This is a temporary order (limiting the prices of socially important goods in accordance with government resolution #100 of Feb 23, 2021 – editor’s note), which was designed to reduce the inflationary surge in connection with the introduction of VAT and rising world prices for food and raw materials. This is a delicate task, because we have to solve a threefold problem - to ensure the financial stability of companies - producers, traders, importers, to ensure the availability of goods on the shelf, and not to worsen the situation with payments for goods supplied. The main tasks are to control prices and work with the foodstuffs,” Koltovich said.
In his words, the question of the cost of food imports is particularly relevant at the moment. “We cannot be aloof from this process if Russia sets higher export duties on vegetable oil today, increasing them from 30% to 50% as of June 1. The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Kazan on April 30 will discuss non-synchronized actions by EEU member states in terms of food provision,” Koltovitch said.
He said that according to the statistics, the global food index was 118.5%, which is the highest level in the last 14 years. “In this regard, the second task of the Ministry is to provide consumers with goods, stability in this matter and, of course, control activities in all directions,” said Koltovitch.
As previously reported with reference to government resolution #100, the Belarusian authorities restricted the growth of prices of essential goods to no more than 0.2% per month from March 1, 2021. The list includes 62 kinds of foods and consumer goods and 50 kinds of medicines produced in Belarus. Belarus’ inflation was 0.7% in March 2021 and 3.8% in January-February. By the end of 2021, the authorities are planning inflation at the level of 5% per annum.
Koltovich admitted that resolution #100 of 23 February 2021 contributed to a month-on-month decrease in the prices of socially important goods by 0.1% in March 2021. End