Commerce Ministry's proposal to Shoura CouncilOkaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has made a proposal to the Shoura Council to study limiting the responsibility of importing basic food items like sugar, rice and oil to the government so as to control price rise, an informed source told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. The suggestion stipulates that the government should bear the transportation cost and pay customs duties for importing food items while merchants should carry out marketing and distribution with some profit margin. The Council, however, is yet to decide on the proposal. He said that price hikes were unjustified because there was no shortage of foodstuff. It is difficult for the ministry's inspection teams to monitor all markets due to the limited number of inspectors, the source added. He said the ministry has adopted a three-pronged strategy to monitor markets: intensifying inspections, formulating a foodstuff price index and assigning a toll-free number for customers' complaints. The Saudi per capita food consumption is expected to increase by 31.24 percent by 2014, according to industry experts. The Kingdom with a population of 28 million has remained the largest market for food and beverage in the Gulf region. The country represents 63 percent of the $9 billion GCC food market. __
