TIZI-OUZOU - Investment in large commercial spaces helps to regulate the national market in terms of product availability and price stability, declared the Minister for Trade and Export Development, Tayeb Zitouni, on a working visit to the province of Tizi-Ouzou on Tuesday.
The Minister, who visited a number of retail outlets, including the privately-owned wholesale market in Tizi-Ouzou and the local market opened by the local authorities for the month of Ramadhan, said that "the creation of large retail outlets, distribution platforms and central purchasing units helps to keep prices under control".
He added that the State was "encouraging individuals to invest in the creation of large markets and production, marketing, distribution and sales areas, which will make it possible to reduce to a minimum the number of players in the distribution chain, in order to control prices throughout the year, to the benefit of both farmers and consumers".
In the same context, and addressing the price of bananas, which has soared recently to over 450 DA a kilo ($3.33), or even more in some places, Mr Zitouni appealed to those behind this increase to be reasonable, while warning that "regulatory measures will be taken against speculators, including the withdrawal of authorization to import this product", adding that these speculators "are subject to the law against illegal speculation".
Reviewing the activity of local markets opened throughout the country during the month of Ramadhan, and the supply of consumer goods to the market in order to ensure that citizens receive products at affordable prices and avoid any shortages, the Minister said that "95% of the objectives set by his department have been achieved".
He praised the support of economic operators, traders, craftsmen and other producers in this approach.
Mr Zitouni also visited the fruit and vegetable wholesale market located on the Rocade-Sud and opened by a private company. This large commercial space employs 150 workers and obtains supplies of various products from 14 provinces at a rate of 1,000 to 1,500 tones/day. In addition to the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou, it supplies the provinces of Bejaia, Bouira, Boumerdes and Algiers.
The Minister also visited the Tassili dairy in the commune of Draa Ben Khedda, the main supplier of pasteurized milk in subsidized bags to the province of Tizi-Ouzou. The dairy has a production capacity of 500,000 liters of milk per day, and markets 275,000 liters of milk per day.
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