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In an effort to try to mitigate the impact of the crisis that befell it, the Syrian government decided Through the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, not to tolerate the merchants who take advantage of the current circumstances, and to pursue what he described as “the whales of trade in Syria” and to refer the violators to the judiciary.
Amr Salem, the Syrian Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, indicated today, Sunday, through the newspaper "Al-Watan", that the Ukrainian crisis had a 40 percent impact on oil prices around the world. , including Syria.
"We have alternative sources, and we are doing whatever is required to keep things going," he said during the interview with the local newspaper, Al-Watan. Adding that indifference to the words of those trying to profit from spreading fear is the only cause for concern.
According to Salem’s announcement, the “Syrian Trade” halls will be able to sell a bottle of vegetable oil at a price of 8,500 Syrian pounds per bottle through the “smart card” starting today.
In light of the merchants' monopoly on oil, Salem said that starting today, it will be provided in addition to sugar and grains as an intervention for the Syrian trade, explaining that the ministry has confiscated huge monopolized quantities of about 20 tons.
To read or listen: meat is on the list of “caustic prices” because of Ukraine and other things
The minister stressed the need to prosecute traders who monopolized the material, citing data showing that some traders took advantage of the current situation and are trying to sell oil at a high price. Noting that a tender has been made to import 25,000 tons of oil at a rate of 25 million packages, and upon their arrival, they will be offered for sale in Syria.
He added that there are “consumer protection patrols around the clock to monitor prices and inform the judiciary of violators,” stressing that the ministry will not accept merchants who take advantage of the current situation and refer them to court. After meeting with the merchants, it was agreed to reduce prices and freeze them now.
After that, Salem said, the government cannot go after all the shops, so they focused on the trade whales in Syria in order to regulate the monopolistic activities.
Salem explained why potatoes are being sold now for more than 3,500 Syrian pounds, and the possibility that they could reach 5,000 pounds. Where he said that this year's crop will be imported from abroad because the land is currently cultivated with the Tishreen lug. There is not enough supply to meet demand; Because the period extends between the two periods of the fourth month.
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The recent increase in the costs of vegetable oils for a period of three days has become unbearable, or has no justification in Syria except for the monopoly and dominance of merchants, and the competition of individuals who are able to buy and obtain them in large quantities.
Because the “consumer protectors,” as they are known by the Syrian government, have admitted that the merchants are responsible for that, because they refuse to put the substance and other foodstuffs on the market for profit. Journalist Ghassan Fatoum believes that it is strange that this price increase It has happened before in Syria.
Fatoum indicated in his interview with the local newspaper, "Al-Baath", that in light of the current developments, it is still possible to reach most of the goods. But they are hidden from view in warehouses above ground or buried beneath. This raises the question of how the situation will change in the coming months as the fighting continues in Ukraine.
The Syrian journalist believes that the solution lies in destroying a few whales that control the fate of the homeland, as he described it. There is no way to avoid monopolizing all imported goods by selling them at reduced prices through Syrian commercial establishments. This is in order to reduce the burden on customers who are already suffering from stress due to its high costs.
It is worth mentioning that the Syrian markets may witness a sharp rise in prices this week, as a result of the continuation of the Russian war on Ukraine. Especially since the results of this war have actually begun to appear gradually on the Syrian economy, despite the government's claim that it plans to avoid these repercussions. In addition to the conflicting statements of government agencies about the matter, and justifying this by exploiting the Ukrainian crisis by merchants.
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