Khaberni - The Minister of Agriculture, Saeb Khreisat, confirmed the ministry’s readiness to facilitate the opening of new meat import markets, and to ease the procedures that limit the increase of imported quantities, in cooperation with the private sector, pointing out that the ministry has been working since the start of the crisis to facilitate the import processes and enhance the quantities available to curb price increases.
Khreisat added, during a meeting with the companies importing fresh and frozen meats, to discuss the reasons for the price increases and ways to mitigate the impacts of global rises, that the ministry will continue to support efforts aimed at reinforcing the food supply of meats, through diversifying import sources and monitoring the readiness of supply chains, ensuring the continuity of the availability of this commodity in the local market.
For his part, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Yarub Qudah, emphasized the government's commitment to taking effective and swift actions to curb the rise in prices of essential goods globally, with meats being a primary focus, in a way that achieves a balance between supply sustainability and consumer protection.
Qudah said that the ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and in partnership with the private sector, will work on addressing most of the reasons behind the rise of prices of imported meats within the available resources, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the supply chains and to increase the quantities imported to the kingdom, especially to the Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse, given a recent decline in the quantities imported to it.
He pointed out that additional measures are being considered to support the continuity of imports and to curb rising prices, which will positively reflect on the local market, confirming that market surveillance will be intensified in the upcoming phase to prevent any monopolistic practices or unjustified price hikes.
Qudah emphasized the importance of partnering with the private sector to maintain market stability and provide goods in appropriate quantities and prices.
In turn, Khalil Haj Tawfiq, the head of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Chief of the Foodstuff Traders, said that the rise in prices of imported meats is due to real reasons, the most prominent being the rise in shipping costs and global demand, in addition to the halt of several airline routes that were contributing to the transportation of such quantities.
He added that the guild will work on launching an initiative to urge malls and hypermarkets to sell meats at cost price for the time being, until the crisis subsides, to alleviate the burden on the citizens.
For their part, the importers confirmed the absence of any monopolistic practices or refusal to supply, indicating their intention to double the imported quantities in the upcoming week, and to turn to new markets that are less costly in terms of prices and shipping fees.
