Ivory Coast: the government presents its plan to fight against the high cost of living
The Treichville market in Abidjan.
RFI / Matthieu Millecamps
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In an attempt to stem persistent inflation, the government detailed its plan on Wednesday to combat the high cost of living.
The prices of a dozen basic necessities will be blocked for three months, while a dozen other products join the list of products and services whose prices are regulated by the government.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
François Hume-Ferkatadji
This was one of the requests of consumer associations: to update the list of goods whose prices are controlled, which had remained unchanged since 1997.
In addition to fuel and baguette, the prices of meat, fish, refined cooking oil, local rice, building materials, public transport, social housing rents, and Internet access prices will therefore be set by the State, after a series of interviews with the players concerned.
In theory, regulation presupposes taking into account the interests of all parties, from the consumer to economic operators and including the State.
In addition, the prices of certain consumer products, such as sugar or concentrated tomatoes, will be capped for a period of three months, as was already the case in July 2021.
However, the government spokesperson justifies temporary measures which, according to him, respond to temporary causes: the pandemic, the Covid-19, the sanctions against Mali and the war in Ukraine.
“
Each time, these are different economic situations and we are obliged to adapt our systems to these economic situations.
Three months, maybe the situation can improve in Ukraine and the world will panic economically.
We are in a liberal economy, and therefore we cannot permanently take these measures.
It would be an intrusion by the state into the framework of free competition.
»
Last point: prior authorization will be required for any export of food products in order to promote the domestic market.
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Ivory Coast
consumption