Lebanese Republic 
Ministry of Economy launches the Sawa Bel Siyam (together in fasting)’ initiative to reduce the prices of essential food items.
Ministry of Economy launches the Sawa Bel Siyam (together in fasting)’ initiative to reduce the prices of essential food items.
Ministry of Economy launches the Sawa Bel Siyam (together in fasting)’ initiative to reduce the prices of essential food items.
Bisat: the consumer’ protection during the fasting season is a top priority.
Ministry of Economy and Trade launched the Sawa Bel Siyam (together in fasting)’ initiative with the cooperation of the Supermarket Owners Syndicate, food importers and unions; in order to reduce prices of 21 essential food items during Ramadan and Lent in the 27 major supermarkets and over 180 points of sale in Lebanon, as part of the efforts aimed to protect the consumer and ease the living burdens during the fasting period.
The announcement was made during a press conference held on Friday by the Minister of Economy and Trade, Dr. Amer Bisat, with the presence of the Ministry’s Director General, Mohamad Abou Haidar and the Director of the Consumer Protection Directorate Tarek Younes; with the participation of the President of the Syndicate of Supermarkets Nabil Fahd and the President of the Syndicate of Food Importers in Lebanon Hani Bohsali in addition to Heads of number of food syndicates such as meat, poultry, vegetables, mills unions and others.
In his speech, Minister of Economy stated: “During fasting period, our community’s spirit of solidarity and mutual support is being renewed. As a Ministry, we are totally aware of the challenges facing the citizen and we know that our responsibility requires to stand by him. Controlling inflation and improving the living conditions are our top priority through taking practical steps such as increasing the Consumer Protection Directorate’ inspectors visits, enforcing the competition law and facilitating the imports’ procedure to reduce the cost”.
Along with these measures, Bisat stated: “we launches today a new initiative, the Sawa Bel Siyam (together in fasting)’ initiative to reduce prices of 21 most-consumed essential food items like oils, sugar, grains and others by at least 15% and more, in the 27 major supermarkets in Lebanon under the umbrella of the Syndicate of Supermarkets in Lebanon.”
Furthermore, Bisat appreciated the responsiveness of the unions and their cooperation as a positive partnership model when public and private sectors join forces in terms of cost living; and confirmed that “the Ministry will keep pace with the initiative’ implementation with a regular on-site inspection.
At the end, Minister Bisat concluded: “On these blessed days, we aim to put the values of solidarity into practice as well as to improve the living stability and safeguard the citizen’s dignity. Blessed Fasting to the Christians brothers and Ramadan Kareem to the Muslims brothers. Best wishes to everyone”.
