The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) convened on Thursday a meeting of high-level officials to assess the availability of ample stocks of essential commodities and key stables in local markets.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, with the attendance of Qais bin Mohammed al Yousuf, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Agriculture Under-Secretary, Salim bin Ali al Hikmani, Chairman of the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), and Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Commerce and Industry Under-Secretary.
The officials reviewed the current status with regard to the availability of essential foodstuff, notably wheat, rice and vegetable oils. They also discussed mechanisms to ensure stable prices and ample supplies of key food and consumer goods in all markets of the Sultanate of Oman.
The meeting also announced measures to ramp up food stockpiles, enhance food reserves in the domestic market, procurement of key food items from source markets, and to facilitate the import of these commodities through Omani ports.
At the meeting, officials also applauded His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s Royal directives to exempt an additional number of basic food commodities from VAT – a move that will contribute to further stability in the prices of key food items.
Officials also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring adequate supplies of basic commodities and stable prices during Ramadhan. They pledged to monitor supply chains to ensure no impediments or disruptions in supplies. (ONA)