Industry Ministry to undertake measures stimulating decrease of food prices

Astana. November 24. Kazakhstan Today - The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Kazakhstan considers rates of decrease of the prices of food in Kazakhstan disproportionate. The Minister of Industry and Commerce of Kazakhstan, Vladimir Schkolnik, informed that the government plans to undertake a number of measures stimulating reduction of prices, including intervention in the domestic rice market, the agency reports.

"Price conjuncture in the world markets of articles of food has demonstrated the tendency towards reduction of prices ... As of November, 18, 2008 in comparison with October prices in Kazakhstan decrease, for example, on beef by 3.2 %, on carrots - 4.2 %, on bread - 5 %, sunflower-seed oil - 2.5 %, on butter - 5.6 %, and on flour - 2.1 %.

Thus, increase of prices on tomatoes and on rice - by 1 %, on eggs - by 4 %, and on onions - by 5.2 %," V. Schkolnik said.

"To keep inflation within 10 %, maximum level of monthly inflation in November - December should not exceed 0.5 - 0.6 %," Scholnik noted.

Mr. Schkolnik informed that this week the Ministry of Industry will introduce the decree project in the government that will assist increase of the norms of transportation of fruit-and-vegetable products delivered by physical entities through the state frontier from 10 up to 25 tons. "We hope this will help reduce the price for vegetables," V. Scholnik emphasized.

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