Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Monday chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to discuss the preparations of the public and private sectors for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, expected to commence on April 13.

During the meeting – attended by ministers, officials and representatives of the private sectors’ commercial, industrial, food and agricultural sectors, Khasawneh expressed the government’s "awareness” of the gradual increase in international prices of several commodities, such as oil, sugar and rice since last September as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The premier attributed the increase of prices to several reasons, such as increased imports in several countries, which affected supply and demand, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also stressed that the government will take all necessary procedures to secure main commodities for citizens during and after Ramadan through the civil and military consumer corporations.

Khasawneh added that the government, through the Jordan Customs Department, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation, and the Food and Drug Administration, will ensure smooth flow of entry of items into the Kingdom without bureaucratic red tape that increase burdens on citizens and the private sector.

The prime minister said that the state general budget incurred "huge losses” due to the pandemic, which affected tax revenues, trade movement, customs revenues and revenues of the Treasury, which are usually collected from local sources.

For her part, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Maha Al Ali reviewed the ministry’s plan in preparation for Ramadan, stressing that the strategic reserve of basic items, such as wheat, barley, sugar, rice, oil, dried milk and legumes are safe and sufficient for the Kingdom’s needs for "good periods”.

Ali also referred to a recent ministry decision to stop the export of sugar, rice and legumes to ensure having enough quantities for the local market.

President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Nael Kabariti said that there is a scheduled meeting for oil traders who pledged to reach a "just formula” to sell various types of cooking oil that are already in the inventory for lower prices and sell newly imported oil for rates close to the cost, noting that other merchants pledged to reduce the price of rice.