TIRANA, Sept. 18 /ATA/-By Maela Marini/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama urged supermarkets and grocers on Friday to ensure price transparency and avoid making what he described as unfair profits at consumers’ expense.
Speaking at a meeting with supermarket representatives and major suppliers, Rama said the government was not seeking to control prices or prevent businesses from making profits, but wanted greater transparency and fairness.
“We are telling you: make profits, but let others breathe,” Rama said, adding that aggressive capitalism had become a concern.
The meeting focused on the government’s new digital price-transparency platform, “Price Watch Albania,” which will allow consumers to compare prices across retailers.
The government head called for supermarkets to provide complete lists of stores and addresses, along with product data including barcodes, brands, weights and units of measurement. The platform should distinguish regular prices from promotional offers and show when products are out of stock.
He also called for a common standard on how frequently prices are updated and how quickly changes are reflected on the platform.
Rama said data from the Bank of Albania showed that the euro’s depreciation and lower imported inflation should have contributed to lower prices, while domestic products remained particularly expensive.
He said the government would initially seek a joint commitment from retailers to participate in a pilot phase of the platform.
Rama said the government’s focus was on essential food products rather than luxury goods, adding that consumers should be able to compare prices easily and make informed choices.
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