DILI, 27 september 2023 (TATOLI) – The ninth government, through the Minister of Commerce and Industry (MCI), launched a market intervention to reduce rice prices in Timor-Leste.
Deputy Minister of MCI, Agostu Junior Trindade, said the ninth government, through the Minister of Commerce and Industry, today launched the activity of market intervention to reduce rice prices in Timor-Leste, aimed at ensuring the rice price in the domestic market is stable.
“It is the ninth government policy that has been approved by the council ministers to take any intervention for the rice price in the domestic market, as the rice price is not stable in the country and even it is affected by the international market,’’ Deputy Minister of MCI, Agostu Junior Trindade, said in his remarks in Tibar this wednesday.
He added that this action is being taken to normalize rice prices in the traditional markets across the territory of Timor-Leste. The rice price is increasing globally and also in the country, which is a huge concern to the public. It is required for the government to take immediate action to normalize rice prices in Timor-Leste.
“I was informed by the President of the National Logistic Center that currently, we have available 2.600 tons of local rice that will be distributed to rural areas at municipality levels,’’ he said.
The Executive Director of CLN, Jacinto Paijo, said there are 2.600 tons of local rice available in the national and municipal warehouses.
“We will distribute local prices to the rural areas at the municipal level, such as in Covalima, Bobonaro, Manufahi, Ainaro, and others.
The local rice price will be 12.50 for 25 kg.
“We do not have a stock of imported rice, but we just provided the stock of local rice, which we are purchasing from our local farmers across the Territories of Timor-Leste,’’ he said.
CNL continues to purchase local crops to ensure national consumption, but CLN also provided a budget of 6 million USD to purchase local rice, for a total of $3 million, and the other $3 million will buy imported rice to respond to emergency needs.
It is known that the launching ceremony was actually launched by the Minister of MCI and Social Solidarity, but they still participated in the extraordinary meeting of the council minister, and the activity was postponed to tomorrow.
Journalist: José Belarmino de Sá
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
