The Prime Minister inspects the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasizing the impact of currency depreciation on prices.
Prime Minister Visits Ministry of Industry and Trade to Address Market Regulation
On Saturday, Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Brek conducted a field visit to the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the temporary capital, Aden. The visit aimed to assess ongoing efforts to monitor market conditions and regulate commodity prices, particularly in light of recent positive changes in the national currency exchange rate.
Meeting with Ministry Officials
During the visit, the Prime Minister held a meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammed Al-Ashoul and ministry leadership. They provided detailed reports on measures taken to stabilize markets and the mechanisms for conducting daily inspections of retail outlets and essential goods sales points. The discussions also covered coordination with relevant ministries, local authorities, and ongoing plans to enhance the ministry’s role in consumer protection.
Intensifying Market Inspections
The Prime Minister listened to the ministry’s plans to intensify field inspections in Aden and liberated provinces. He emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance with fair pricing for essential and consumer goods while curbing manipulation, monopolization, and price inflation.
Government’s Commitment to Price Regulation
In his directive, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s close monitoring of local market developments. He stressed that controlling prices remains a top priority, especially given the challenging living conditions faced by citizens. He called for decisive actions against those manipulating basic commodity prices and urged that the recent decline in currency exchange rates should translate into actual reductions in food and service prices.
Addressing Traders and Consumers
The Prime Minister highlighted the need for improvements in the pricing of essential goods, rejecting traders’ justifications for maintaining high prices based on previous import costs. He insisted that pricing should reflect daily exchange rates, as revenues convert to hard currencies daily. He underscored the ministry’s responsibility to protect consumers while balancing the interests of the private sector.
Establishing Effective Monitoring Teams
Bin Brek directed the formation of effective field monitoring teams in Aden and liberated provinces, coordinating with local authorities to enforce penalties on violators. He emphasized the importance of transparency, urging the announcement of proactive collaborators and ensuring that monitoring teams do not devolve into corrupt entities. He also called for weekly bulletins to educate citizens about their rights.
Promoting Social Justice and Community Involvement
The Prime Minister noted that social justice and national responsibility require safeguarding citizens’ interests and regulating the market. He proposed involving community oversight to support government efforts and build public trust. This initiative would include establishing a pricing committee composed of the Ministry of Industry and the Chamber of Commerce to develop pricing policies based on actual costs and reasonable profit margins.
Launching Hotlines for Consumer Complaints
To enhance market regulation, the Prime Minister announced the launch of hotlines for citizens to report violations and provide feedback. He stressed that market oversight is a collective responsibility requiring collaboration among government entities, local authorities, and the community. Violators will face judicial action without leniency.
Commitment to Economic Improvement
Bin Brek reiterated the government’s commitment to improving economic and living conditions while strengthening market oversight. He emphasized the need for increased coordination among relevant ministries, local authorities, and regulatory bodies to enhance the state’s presence in the field and alleviate citizens’ burdens.
Message to the Business Sector
In a message to the commercial and private sectors, the Prime Minister acknowledged their vital role in the national economy. He urged them to respond positively by lowering prices in line with the improved national currency exchange rate. He warned that the government would not hesitate to take strict measures to protect citizens’ rights if necessary.
Encouraging Citizen Participation
The Prime Minister also addressed citizens, assuring them that the government is committed to improving their conditions. He encouraged them to engage with regulatory campaigns and report any violations, thereby enhancing community oversight alongside government efforts. He explained that the government, in coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council, is working to restore economic balance and create a conducive environment for investment.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
In closing, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s determination to implement all necessary measures to regulate economic performance and achieve recovery. He acknowledged the hardships faced by citizens and emphasized that the government is actively addressing these issues through a comprehensive economic plan focused on revenue enhancement, market regulation, and improving state institutions’ performance. He assured that improving conditions is not merely a promise but a priority being actively pursued.
Minister’s Remarks
The Minister of Industry and Trade welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit, expressing appreciation for the support it represents for the ministry’s role in consumer protection and market oversight. He outlined the ministry’s plans to respond to the significant improvements in the national currency exchange rate and its efforts through inspection committees in Aden and other provinces to stabilize prices. He confirmed that strict measures would be taken against non-compliant suppliers and traders, including revoking business licenses and publishing a blacklist of price manipulators.
Attendance
The meeting included Dr. Ali Atboush, Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ambassador Mujib Othman, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and several deputy ministers and officials.
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