Skopje, 3 September 2023 (MIA) - Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi said he will personally lodge an appeal with the Commission for the Protection of Competition (KZK) on Tuesday, to check whether traders tacitly coordinate in increasing the prices of basic food products. 

"I will go to the Commission for the Protection of Competition at 10 am on Tuesday to lodge an appeal, so that it can start taking action in the dairy industry and in other industries," Bytyqi told reporters after Sunday's presentation of the IPARD 3 programme in Skopje. 

Earlier, the Commission said it cannot independently check whether traders coordinate on the prices, noting that an appeal must be lodged for it to act. 

Bytyqi also said that a measure will be adopted at Tuesday's government session with regard to the dairy industry due to the lack of milk, enabling the producers to intervene accordingly.

"We cannot reduce the prices and have them operate at a loss. No one expects that, but we also cannot allow those who sell the products to make the biggest profit at the expense of the producers and at the expense of the citizens," said Bytyqi. 

As regards to increased prices of fruits and vegetables, Bytyqi pointed out that the country is still import-dependent, but domestic food production has increased compared to 2016. 

"When a country is import-dependent for basic food products, you cannot expect that in five years you will make it export-oriented in order to provide sufficient quantities for the domestic market and export at the same time. Today, there is 70 percent increase in production compared to 2016, but not enough to provide full domestic production for the domestic market," said Bytyqi. 

Photo: MIA