Agriculture Minister: no shortage in stocks of food, primary consumer goods in Georgia
The Agriculture Ministry said its agencies were monitoring uninterrupted supply and replenishment of food in the country, in addition to coordinating work with representatives of major retail chains and companies importing food and consumer products to Georgia. Photo: Agriculture Ministry of Georgia
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Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia has said no shortage in stocks of food and primary consumer goods is observed in Georgia following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine last month, stressing the importance of maintaining a “stable supply” of products in the market and avoiding “unreasonable price increases”.
Shamugia made the comment during his meeting with representatives of large trade networks and companies importing food and other products to Georgia on Wednesday, where he emphasised the significance of the state’s involvement in the process with its support of “required fields” and “special responsibility” of business. The Minister said the sides involved in the meeting had agreed to work “in maximum coordination with importers and suppliers.”
Iva Chkhonia, the Head of the Georgian Distributors Association, noted obstructions in deliveries in the trade network due to “excessive purchase” of the products by the population, which he described as “artificially leading to shortage.”
Despite the difficulties, he also maintained the market in the country was in stable condition, calling on citizens “not to harm either yourself or other customers with excess purchases,” and adding “if today a certain brand of oil, buckwheat or sugar is not found on the counter, it does not mean that it will not be [available] in two or three days.”
Nikoloz Natbiladze, a representative of Agara Sugar Factory, said the factory would resume “full operation” from April 1 and would “ensure uninterrupted supply” of their product to the market, adding “there is no reason to panic.”
The Agriculture Ministry said its agencies were monitoring uninterrupted supply and replenishment of food in the country, in addition to coordinating work with representatives of major retail chains and companies importing food and consumer products to Georgia.
Reuters reported on Wednesday Ukraine had banned exports of rye, barley, buckwheat, millet, sugar, salt, and meat until the end of 2022 per a cabinet resolution.