Iraq – Gov’t, parliament pledge to regulate prices; hold manipulators to account

Location: Baghdad – Iraq

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:03:09

Sound: natural

Source: A24

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Dateline: 3/7/2022

Storyline

The Iraqi market, in general, and in Baghdad in particular, are witnessing a large and sudden rise in food prices, which burdens the simple and poor citizens. This prompted the Presidency of the Iraqi Council of Representatives to hold a press conference, in the presence of the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hakim Zamili and Minister of Trade Alaa Jbouri with leaders in national security and economic security. Jbouri confirmed that some traders have started manipulating the prices of foodstuffs by storing them and then putting them on the market again, at a time when these materials are witnessing a rise in demand across the world due to the Russian-Ukrainian war. In addition, Zamili warned those who tamper with the citizens’ staples that the security forces will take strict measures against them.

Shotlist

(Soundbite) Dr. Alaa Jbouri, the Iraqi Minister of Trade:

“Some traders are in the process of withdrawing materials, storing them, and then selling them. Otherwise, how do prices rise so suddenly? There is a supply chain for those concerned in the economic side, starting from the origin and buying, and there is a factory and there is a pricing policy. This process indicates the presence of immediate intervention in it, and this is meant to raise prices. We acknowledge that there is a rise in prices globally and not only in Iraq.

“Today, what is noticeable is the increase of prices globally as a result of the existing war (Russian-Ukrainian) because these countries are exporters, but in the next period, God willing, the market may start to export from other sources. We will search for alternatives and settle down, and we will feed the markets with the required materials.”

(Soundbite) Hakim Zamili, the First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives:

“National security personnel and the Ministry of the Interior and the security services personnel will be sent to the market to monitor how things are going, and I will personally supervise this.

“There is no compromise in the people’s staples, and any manipulator of the people’s staples will be held accountable. There is no such thing as chaos, and everyone works at their own pace, so I would urge honest and patriotic traders to not be greedy and avoid hoarding materials and raising prices. This is the language of dialogue, and we will sit with the merchants and our brothers who work the market; after that, will resort to tough measures.”

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