Consumer organizations in Cote d’Ivoire fear a rise in grain prices due to the war in Russia.
They are concerned about a possible increase in the cost of living due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the largest grain exporters in the world.
The celebration of Consumer Day on Tuesday, March 15, served as a forum for consumer associations in Cote d’Ivoire to discuss the risks of an increase in the cost of living due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The president of the national coalition of consumer organizations of Cote d’Ivoire, Soumahoro Ben N’Fally, said that “the war in Russia-Ukraine seriously threatens the cost of living.”
This year, World Consumer Day is celebrated in a particular context, marked by the health crisis of COVID-19 and the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has caused a surge in grain prices on the international market.
According to Mr. Soumahoro, it is a matter of warning the people, because the days to come will be difficult in the face of this situation. He hammered that “Cote d’Ivoire has chosen economic liberalism, and this does not mean economic disorder.”
He also praised the action of the Ivorian government which has issued a list of consumer products that have been regulated. It is up to consumers to report traders who do not respect these measures, by referring to the authorities.
The Technical Advisor to the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, Ms. Edith Clarisse Kouassy, said that the theme of this edition “The COVID-19 impact on the high cost of living,” is an opportunity to explain the response of the Ivorian state.
Cote d’Ivoire, she said, has been negatively impacted by the pandemic in all sectors, but the government has put in place a robust response plan to mitigate the consequences of the disease on the population and the economy.
Thanks to the efforts of the Ivorian government, the country’s economic growth has increased from 2 percent in 2020 to 6.5 percent in 2021. For the year 2022, Cote d’Ivoire expects a growth rate of 7.5 percent, provided that the government manages to contain inflation.
AP/ls/cgd/lb/abj/APA