Bogdanov: when regulating prices for agricultural products, the interests of all market participants are taken into account

February 16, Minsk. In Belarus, when regulating prices for agricultural products, the interests of all market participants are taken into account. Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Aleksey Bogdanov told journalists today before the final meeting of the MART board, BelTA has learned.

“First of all, it is very important to ensure the interests of all market participants: to allow both agricultural producers and trade to earn money, and most importantly, to enable the consumer to buy this product. Therefore, certain mechanisms have been developed to ensure earnings for the commodity producer, profit for trade and a fair price for goods on shop shelves for our citizens. Today we see that inflation in other countries is very high, but it is wrong to put an innocent Belarusian in these conditions. Therefore, measures were taken to form stabilization funds, to saturate the domestic market with all fruits and vegetables, and in this plan, we will continue to work,” said Alexei Bogdanov.

As reported, the government limited the maximum levels of selling and retail prices from January to May 2022 for certain types of domestic products.

Belarus is also taking other measures to provide vulnerable categories of the population with essential goods at affordable prices. Thus, between the subjects of trade and MART, on behalf of the government, on January 12, an agreement was signed on providing a 10 percent discount on socially significant essential goods. These include bread, flour, oatmeal, pearl barley, dry pasta, beef, pork, chicken meat, milk, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese, eggs, apples, vegetables and other goods. The discount is given to pensioners, the disabled, large families and low-income segments of the population. 17 retail chains have joined the agreement. "Our work with retail chains and commodity producers is bearing fruit. The agreement on a social discount, measures to reduce the cost of production - this gives us the opportunity to control the price on the shelf and reduce inflationary processes in our country. Traditionally, every year begins with a high rise in prices due to called seasonality, but we plan that the measures that we will take during the year will allow us to reach the planned parameters," the minister said.

"There is no goal to punish anyone. On the contrary, we are trying to enable our producers, our business to increase production volumes and earn additional profit due to greater turnover. But not due to overpricing. Invest, develop, increase production, put on the shelf , export products, earn money and return it to the country's economy again - this is the goal," summed up Alexey Bogdanov.