Jomaa calls for taking urgent measures to curb rising commodity prices

Interim Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa called on officials of the Trade and Handicrafts Ministry to take urgent measures to curb the rising prices of such basic products as red and white meat and eggs. He recommended, in this regard, to activate the national price control commission overseen by the Prime Ministry, the latter said in a press release issued Monday. The same source added that there is also need to work to increase points of sale from producer to consumer to ease pressure on citizens, particularly the poorest among them. The Prime Minister, who paid a visit to the Ministry of Trade and Handicrafts on Monday, stressed the importance of implementing a national strategy to combat smuggling and informal trade which impact negatively on the national economy. Jomaa also emphasised the need to direct the compensation system to the poorest, in order to reduce the compensation charges weighing on the state budget. The Prime Minister met, during this visit, with Minister of Trade and Handicrafts Nejla Harrouch and the department's executives. He learnt about the ministry's activity in this period, particularly in terms of price control, protection of citizens' purchasing power and streamlining compensation. He urged the ministry's officials to define the responsibilities of each side to take needed measures for citizens and ensure market supply. However, no concrete measure has been mentioned in the Prime Ministry's press statement.