The capping of the mark-up on basic food products will be extended by six months, the measure to be approved in the Government meeting on Thursday, announced Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
"We have decided to continue capping the mark-up on food products and in tomorrow's Government meeting this project will be on the agenda and will be extended by six months. This was done both on the basis of discussions within the coalition, but also on the basis of discussions with store chains and producers. Although an attempt was made to portray me as an inflexible man, as can be seen in this aspect, I was open to arguments, but decisions must always be made not on populist grounds, but on the basis of serious analyses. I believe that market interventions are not, in essence, the solution for a real decrease in prices," Bolojan told a Wednesday's press conference at Victoria Palace.
He stressed that the solutions are for Romania to produce more in the agricultural sector.
"This is very important: to increase our production and processing of agri-food products, because we must recognize that we have undervalued Romania's agricultural potential. So, we must produce more, and that means several components: to support our strong producers who today have proven their capability through access to large store chains, have proven their potential through the exports they make, through programs to directly support them, in such a way that they either increase their production capacity or diversify it and produce things that today are imported to a very large extent," explained the prime minister.
According to him, a second component discussed with large store chains is supporting Romanian exports.
"Just as imports come to Romania through large store chains, rightly so, because some products are in demand on the Romanian market, they are international brands, but there are no factories in Romania. Likewise, our champions who are competitive can be supported, and we have a commitment from the store chains to expand their production and to be pushed, practically, if they are competitive, obviously, on the markets in the area," explained Ilie Bolojan.
He pointed out that foreign investments in this field must also continue to be supported, and not only in the processing area.
"Large companies that have brands on the Romanian market, but do not have factories in Romania, if they are in other European countries, must be invited, and that is what I will do in the coming period, to be present on the Romanian market, because that means production in Romania, it means jobs and it means additional earnings for Romanians", Prime Minister Bolojan said.
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