ARF parliament member questions wisdom of government-designed bill to set food prices ceilings
17.03.2011,
22:39
Ara Nranian, a parliament member from the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation/ Dashnaktsutyun party (ARF), questioned today the wisdom of a government-designed bill that would vest the government with authority to interfere and set price ceilings
YEREVAN, March 17, /ARKA/. Ara Nranian, a parliament member from the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation/ Dashnaktsutyun party (ARF), questioned today the wisdom of a government-designed bill that would vest the government with authority to interfere and set price ceilings for a number of foods if they grow by 30 and more percent within one month, saying the authorities should instead work to ensure fair economic competition.
“It would be better if the government eliminate monopolies and give thousands of people a chance to start or develop their small businesses. No matter who imports foods and grain crops or cooking oil. Even if prices grow people would have higher wages, they would have jobs - in other words there would be a real economic activity,’ he said today during a discussion on local and global inflation trends and Armenian monopolies.
He said Armenia should pattern its economic model from those of developed nations and be driven in the first place by economic expediency.
“Those who think that Armenia whose GDP is 40% made of imports is able to create an artificial island of low prices are wrong. It is absurd,’ he said.
Armenian inflation rose further by 1.9% in February from January dragging the 12 month figure up to 12.4%. According to government data, food prices rose by 10.1% in that time span. The government inflation projection for 2011 is 4±1.5%. -0-
“It would be better if the government eliminate monopolies and give thousands of people a chance to start or develop their small businesses. No matter who imports foods and grain crops or cooking oil. Even if prices grow people would have higher wages, they would have jobs - in other words there would be a real economic activity,’ he said today during a discussion on local and global inflation trends and Armenian monopolies.
He said Armenia should pattern its economic model from those of developed nations and be driven in the first place by economic expediency.
“Those who think that Armenia whose GDP is 40% made of imports is able to create an artificial island of low prices are wrong. It is absurd,’ he said.
Armenian inflation rose further by 1.9% in February from January dragging the 12 month figure up to 12.4%. According to government data, food prices rose by 10.1% in that time span. The government inflation projection for 2011 is 4±1.5%. -0-
