The joint ministerial committee for vigilance and monitoring of market supply and prices held a meeting on Thursday, January 22, at the Ministry of Interior. This was in preparation for the blessed month of Ramadan 1447 AH.
The Ministry of Interior stated that this meeting comes in line with royal directives aimed at protecting citizens’ purchasing power and ensuring the availability of essential goods and regular market supply, especially with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan.
It indicated that it served as an opportunity to assess the situation of supply and prices, enhance coordination and monitoring mechanisms, and intensify market control and regulation operations. Also, to firmly confront all forms of speculation, price manipulation, and illegal practices that infringe upon consumers’ rights or their health and safety.
The statement clarified that regarding the state of national market supply, and based on data provided by officials from the concerned ministerial sectors and institutions, as well as conclusions from research and reports conducted across various provinces and regions, it has been shown that supply in markets for various consumer goods remains normal.
The ministry confirmed that the available stocks, expected production, and the anticipated supply in the coming weeks will enable meeting consumption needs for various essential goods during the blessed month of Ramadan and the following months. This is thanks to the proactive measures adopted by government authorities and specialized administrative services, in coordination with the concerned economic actors, to meet the requirements of national markets and avoid any shortages in the supply of various essential goods, especially those that see increased demand as Ramadan approaches and during the month itself.
The meeting also highlighted the positive impact of the significant rainfall the country has experienced recently. It is expected to contribute, in the short and medium term, to improving the productivity of agricultural, pastoral, and livestock activities, thereby supporting national capacities to supply the markets with basic products.
The statement noted that it is also expected that the resumption of small pelagic fish fishing activities before the arrival of Ramadan in several areas, following the biological rest period and other accompanying measures, will enhance the supply of various fish species. Particularly those that see wide demand during Ramadan.
In this context, despite the reassuring data and indicators available concerning the supply situation, it was underscored during the meeting the need to maintain vigilance and monitoring and continue mobilization by all concerned economic stakeholders, various sectors, institutions, and relevant supervisory bodies to ensure the continued regular supply of markets and improve the efficiency of the production, distribution, and marketing system and curb rising prices.
It was also emphasized the continuous work to monitor and regulate the markets, seeking to protect consumers’ rights and citizens’ purchasing power, and to safeguard their health and safety.
In this regard, instructions were directed to all stakeholders, particularly governors and local officials, to work and ensure the continuation and enhancement of coordination, vigilance, and mobilization of all relevant authorities, administrations, and bodies, and to take necessary measures for sufficient and regular supply to markets across the various provinces and regions of the kingdom. To identify any potential imbalances in supply and distribution channels, and address them with the required efficiency and promptness.
It was also reaffirmed to intensify the interventions of monitoring services and ensure respect for legal provisions related to prices, competition, and consumer protection, and to confront, with the necessary firmness and decisiveness, all forms of speculation, monopolization, and secret hoarding, as well as all commercial practices that disrupt the normal functioning of the markets or infringe upon consumers’ rights or their health and safety. To activate the punitive measures established by law against those committing the aforementioned violations and to enhance coordination between authorities and relevant services in this regard.
There was also a call to work on intensifying communication with consumers, professionals, and civil society actors, through various available means, involving all concerned services and bodies, consumer protection associations, and media, to raise awareness among consumers and encourage them to adopt responsible and sound consumption behaviors.
It was noted that communication numbers and duty cells in the provinces and regions, as well as various relevant services and institutions, will be activated to enable consumers and concerned actors to file their complaints and report cases of fraud, supply shortages, or illegal or questionable commercial practices. Ensuring prompt and effective handling of submitted complaints, in coordination with the relevant services and bodies.
It is worth mentioning that this meeting was attended by the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Health and Social Protection, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and the State Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, responsible for the fisheries sector.
Also present were the directors general of the General Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes, the National Fisheries Office, the National Grain and Legume Office, and the National Office for Food Safety. The governors of regions and officials from provinces and regions as well as the heads of internal affairs departments, heads of economic affairs departments in provinces and regions, and heads of decentralized services concerned participated remotely.
Follow Tangier7 on GOOGLE NEWS and Facebook. Also on Instagram. In addition to X and Nabd App
