Damascus - Sana
The Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, Talal Al-Barazi, confirmed that the unilateral Western coercive measures imposed on Syria and the fluctuation in the exchange rate had led to an increase in the prices of basic materials, especially during the last year.
Al-Barazi clarified in an interview with Al-Suriya TV Al-Tonight that the high prices resulting from the conditions of the blockade and the sanctions and the closure of some border crossings by the American occupation forces affected the economic reality in the country and formed a burden on the citizen in addition to its great impact on the purchasing power in the markets and the imposition of many circles to secure basic materials. That go into the production process.
Al-Barazi indicated that imported materials cannot be measured at the official exchange rate due to the reality and the sanctions imposed on Syria, which have greatly limited the ability of merchants to obtain these materials except through various mediation and circuits to bring them into the country.
Al-Barazi pointed out that the pricing mechanism takes into account two important matters, the first of which is that if the materials are imported, then they have risen in value, and the second is that if the materials are locally produced, then a large part of them depends on imported materials, pointing to the high cost of agricultural production compared to the previous stage.
Al-Barazi indicated that this mechanism is carried out according to the exchange rate mechanisms set by the Central Bank of Syria and representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Economy, Agriculture, Customs and the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture and Industry in order to provide basic materials in the markets at balanced and competitive prices in a manner that protects the consumer and the merchant.
The Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection affirmed that there are excesses in raising prices by some merchants with weak souls and exploiting the reality of the markets as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates indicating that on the other hand, compared to the previous stage in which the number of ration adjustments reached 9 thousand seizures within three months, the number exceeded Controls related to expired and unknown source materials and trade in bread, flour and fuel, in addition to abstaining from selling and controlling specifications and standards, which is 400 percent.
Al-Barazi revealed that the penalties coming after the amendment of the Consumer Protection Law will amount to imprisonment of up to five years with hard work and very large financial fines, especially with regard to serious violations that affect the health of the citizen or have a direct relationship with fraud or trade in foodstuffs subsidized by the state.
Al-Barazi indicated that the Syrian Trade Corporation has 1,430 halls, pointing out that 21 hall managers have been exempted from them 4 months ago until now due to multiple violations, some of which are related to corruption, including the result of default and intentional or unintended negligence.
Al-Barazi pointed out that the number of beneficiaries with limited income from basic materials found in the Syrian trade halls at prices lower than the market from 5 to 20 percent in some materials has become large, indicating that their sales have reached from the beginning of the year until the 12th of this March to 17 billion pounds. .
Al-Barazi explained that the increase in the number of accredited people contributes to reducing the congestion of the bakeries, considering that enhancing the culture of complaints among citizens supports the performance of the supervisory apparatus in the ministry and helps eliminate the corrupt, pointing out that the Syrian Trade seeks with the support of the government, the Economic Committee and the State Treasury in order to provide food supplies.
Al-Barazi stressed that achieving security and safety is one of the government's priorities to confront the economic war on Syria, pointing out that there are directives by the government to work to improve the level of performance and study the economic aspect, considering that 2021 will be the year of victory over terrorism and that Syria will recover and return in the near future better than it was before. on him.