Thursday 18 / April / 2024
Muscat: All consumer items including perishables are being continuously and sufficiently supplied in the market during the lockdown, and there is no need to stockup, people have been assured.
A number of officials and businessmen in the public and private sectors lauded the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the concerned authorities to ensure that the consumer items, commodities and foodstuffs are available in the markets and commercial centres in all governorates of the Sultanate.
They stressed that all required items are being continuously and sufficiently supplied in the market, however, consumers should not go on buying spree randomly and take all preventive measures. All the shops and stores have consumer products sufficient for long periods.
The ministry has taken measures for easy transit of good commodities between the various governorates.
This is in framework of the precautionary and preventive measures approved by the Supreme Committee in charge of mechanism to deal with developments resulting due to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is also a continuation of the efforts made by the Ministry in coordination with government organisations, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local factories and suppliers to ensure the availability of items and products of basic needs in all governorates of the Sultanate.
Mubarak bin Muhammad Al Dohani, Director General of Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that all foodstuffs and consumer goods were available in the markets of the Sultanate. Efforts are continuing to provide basic materials during the complete lockdown in the governorates of the Sultanate from July 25 to August 8.
Mubarak Al Dohani said that the ministry was taking all measures to ensure the supply of all necessary items in the local markets in the lights of the decisions taken by the Supreme Committee. He said that to ensure the availability of basic commodities in all governorates of the Sultanate during the lockdown, the ministry has issued a number of transit permits for commercial establishments and companies which are engaged in activities related to foodstuffs, cooking gas, and oil tank. It is necessary that trucks weighing 3 tonnes or more have to move between governorates during the daytime only.
The companies involved in these activities can obtain permits by contacting through phones or e-mail published on the ministry’s social media accounts and receive the permits. The arrangement has been made to make the work easy. The ministry has urged all these companies to abide by the time frame and the items for which permits have been issued. They should not at any case use permits for purposes other than those for which they are issued. Only the truck driver and cross between governorates.
The Director General of Commerce has also urged all consumers to not to rush to buy more than their actual need. They should indulge in purchasing of the items only the amount they need. He also appreciated the efforts of traders which they are making to provide food and basic materials during the last few months in all governorates of the Sultanate.
Dr. Ahmed bin Abdul Karim Al-Houthi, member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Chairman of the Chamber's Economic Committee, lauded the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the Chamber and its branches in various governorates to make the procedures for businessmen easy so that they can transport various food and consumer goods between governorates without any hassle and avoid any shortage, especially during Eid Al Adha.
Recently, the OCCI, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has asked traders to store basic materials which consumers would need during the lockdown between July 25 and August 8. It was also urged to find alternatives to ensure that there is no shortage of items of consumer needs in all these governorates. The chamber has also asked all to abide by the time frame and the necessary precautionary measures in such circumstances, said Al Houthi.
He said that the delivery of basic materials was most important, as in the case of some products, their expiry date ends within 3 to 4 days such as bread and milk, etc. Therefore, permissions for trucks weighing 3 tonnes are being given so that they can swiftly transport these products between governorates. For those who are involved in trading of such items are also being given stores by the government or the private sector. All sorts of facilities are also being provided at the ports and airports so that there is no hurdle in the arrival of items to the Sultanate and their distribution in the markets of the country.
Ahmed Al Houti said that it was necessary for the goods to be of high quality and at an affordable price. He said that the OCCI would provide all facilities to ensure that the commodities and products reach the consumers were healthy and of high quality. This is necessary as the country was passing through the phase of the Coronavirus pandemic. He also urged all to abide by the precautionary measures in the shopping malls, use sanitisers, masks and maintain at least two meters distance between one shopper and the other. People should also reduce their frequency of visits to the markets, except if necessary.
He said that in this testing time every individual and all public and public sector organisations should cooperate with each other. This is necessary to make sure that these efforts are successful. If there would not be any cooperation things would become more complicated and difficult for all.
Sa’ed bin Abdullah Al-Kharusi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Omani Farmers Association, also appreciated the efforts made by the government and private organisations to reduce the effects of the Corona Virus (Covid 19). These organisations are using all their material and human capabilities to supply all necessary items to the citizens. They are improving vegetables and fruits from many countries to maintain prices and supply.
