No rise in bread prices despite global hike — trade minister

AMMAN — The government is committed to maintaining the prices of bread in spite of global price hikes, and has allocated JD277 million in the 2023 state budget to subsidise bread and animal fodder, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Yousef Shamali said on Saturday.

During a meeting with commercial sector representatives in Irbid, Shamali reiterated that for the fourth year in a row, the government has committed to maintain taxes on local commodities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Also during the meeting, Shamali, who is also labour minister, outlined the government’s recent efforts to regulate the quantity of foreign workers in the domestic labour market, adding that a joint campaign to crackdown on unauthorised foreign workers, conducted by the labour and interior ministries, is underway across the Kingdom.

He also affirmed that the government will continue communication with representatives of various economic sectors, with a particular focus on the commercial sector, through regular visits to chambers of commerce nationwide in coordination with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce.

The commercial sector contributes to 70 per cent of GDP, the minister pointed out, referring to the government's keenness to partner with the private sector. The commercial sector has been “up to the task”, especially during hardships such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the minister said.

Shamali also noted that the latest international reports have placed Jordan at the top of countries in the region in maintaining the quality and price of its products.

Shamali also said that the Economic Modernisation Vision and its 2023-2033 executive programme are proceeding according to plan, highlighting the many achievements made during the first six months of the programme.