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MP: Armenian importers apply double-standard policy

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  • MP: Armenian importers apply double-standard policy

    MP: Armenian importers apply double-standard policy

    YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. Armenian importers apply a double-standard
    policy, Chairman of Armenian Parliament Commission for Financial,
    Credit and Budgetary Issues, MP from the ruling Republican Party of
    Armenia Gagik Minasyan said.

    `When our national currency devaluated, importers raised the prices for
    main foodstuffs groundlessly saying that they need money for purchase
    of new goods. Yet, in the revaluation period, they were not reducing
    the prices to sell the old goods purchased at a higher price. This is a
    double-standard policy,' Minasyan said adding that the State Commission
    for Protection of Economic Competition must closely watch these
    processes.

    `If importers are not reducing the prices while Dram is strengthening,
    they should not raise prices during devaluation of Dram. In this
    respect, a serious work should be done by the Commission,' he said.

    Minasyan also appreciated prompt measures taken by the Commission to
    settle the situation so far.

    On March 3, the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) returned to a free float
    for the rate. The CBA experts expect the average weighted exchange rate
    to range between 360 Drams and 380Drams for $1 in 2009.

    Fearing that prices could rise, people rushed to supermarkets to buy
    first priority goods, including butter, sugar and flour, thus
    artificially raising the demand for these goods.

    Some economic entities took the advantage of the situation and raised
    the prices for some first priority goods.

    Armenia's State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition
    carried out a monitoring and instituted administrative proceedings on
    cases of unjustified price rise on four following markets ` vegetable
    oil and butter, housing appliances and medicines.

    Currently the situation is somehow stabilized and initial prices are
    re-established on the markets of sugar and flour. N.V. `0--
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