Basic goods will continue to be available in the market

Muscat: Basic goods that are required on a regular basis will continue to be made available in markets in Oman, to ensure people have enough supplies even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of officials have appreciated the efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) as well as other government and private sector organisations and authorities to ensure the availability of sufficient stock of food items and necessary consumer goods in the markets and commercial centres in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.

These efforts have been made to ensure the availaiblity of supplies during the time of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in almost all countries of the world. They have said that all other food items and consumer goods are being available through all air, sea and land routes in the Sultanate, in coordination with the importers and cargo companies working in the area. It has been made sure that there is no shortage of various types of foodstuff in the markets of the Sultanate.

Commercial centres, shops as well as local companies and factories are working well. They have sufficient stocks of goods. In addition to this, the concerned authorities have made efforts on a programme for direct import from ports and airports under a well-studied plan to ensure good results.

“At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve, the availability of basic food items and commodities as well as consumer goods in large quantities, in a manner which does not cause any concern in various governorates, was assured,” said Salim bin Ali Al Hikmani, the a member of the Council of the Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Majlis Al Shura. “This was done to maintain balance of the stocks of food items and the stability in the prices of other basic items.”

Mubarak bin Mohammed Al Dawhani, Director General of Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said: “Recently, the ministry had formed a working group to monitoring the economic issues to deal with the ongoing situation. This group is headed by Ahmad bin Hasan Al-Theeb, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and representatives of a number of government and private sector organisations.

“The team is looking into everything related to the economic repercussions of the spread of COVID-19 and will take the necessary measures to meet the needs of consumer goods and food products through various border routes, in coordination with relevant government and private sector organisations,” he added.

Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Karim Al Hooti, member of the Board of Directors of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and chairman of the chamber's economic committee, said: The concerned government organisations have made huge efforts, in cooperation with the private sector such as the OCCI, to ensure availability of the necessary items needed by the consumers during this pandemic.”