Employees of the Antimonopoly Regulation Service carry out explanatory work among sellers in large markets of Bishkek to prevent unreasonable price increases for socially important food products. The state agency reported.
In this way the officials are trying to prevent hype against the background of a sharp rise in food prices.
Monitoring at Sary-Ozon market showed that sellers sell first-grade flour for 36-38 soms (depending on the manufacturer). The maximum price for granulated sugar is 75 soms, and a liter of vegetable oil costs 145-170 soms.
As for pasta, its price varies from 48 to 52 soms per kilogram.
Sellers of Dordoi Motors market said they have been forced to raise sugar prices due to rising wholesale prices and increased demand. Antimonopoly Service Chief Keneshbai Tailakov established a working commission and ordered to assess the sugar market, including to pay a visit to Kaindykant plant.
Vegetable oil suppliers reported that the rise in prices was caused by a sharp growth of the exchange rate of foreign currencies, in which contracts are concluded for deliveries from Russia, and the absence of own production. According to the Antimonopoly Service, importers have vegetable oil stocks, including some on the way to the country. The reduction in the product range was caused by the actions of unscrupulous sellers and artificially created hype.
Bishkek’s largest hypermarkets, Globus and Frunze, have imposed restrictions on food sales. The companies explained the decision as an attempt to prevent shortage of basic necessities.
Kyrgyzstan suffers from rising prices more than other EAEU countries. The republic has the lowest level of food security. According to the head of the Ministry of Economy Daniyar Amangeldiev, more than 70 percent of consumer and food products are imported to date.
