Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, participated today in a round table discussion with representatives of the Association of Bread and Pastries.

“Today, there are more than 2,600 bakeries throughout Albania. We offer three alternatives based on the fulfillment of the criteria by the businesses”, said Balluku.

According to her, this is an important issue both for the energy sector and for the Electricity Power Distribution System Operator (OSHEE) because bakeries consume about 66 million kilowatt-hours per year.

“According to the proposal, there will be a price of 7.6 Lekë per kilowatt-hour for those that have only a bakery. There is a price of 9.5 lekë for those bakeries that also have slightly more integrated activities, such as the sale of pastries or other bakery products. And there is the price of 12 lekë for those that have extended their service and include bar and coffee”, she said.

“We are for the protection of the sector and the consumer”, stated Balluku./r.e/p.s./

It follows establishment of the newly established Board of Administration, for the measures taken to jointly face the impact of the war in Ukraine on consumer goods.

In a conversation with traders, the prime minister stressed that, “This is a difficult time for everyone, including you, despite the fact that there are wrong tendencies to put all the blame on producers, suppliers and traders.”

“What we can do is not to allow abuses as much as we can, while the prices are such that you do not get into trouble, but make a minimum profit that you need for this period. But, no one should use the opportunity to make even more profits than during normal times”, said Rama.

Therefore, the prime minister stressed that there are set up the boards for food and fuel.

“Fuel in the stock market has increased again because these are things that we cannot restrain and will be reflected in prices, but on the other hand we must be very solidarity not to benefit at the expense of people who have these as a basis,” he added.

Talking about fiscal facilities for small business, Rama said that, “It has no taxes and VAT”.

The prime minister stressed that, “No country in the region or in Europe has a small business with zero taxes.”

On her side, Minister Ibrahimaj requested that the bakeries put on display the prices and weight for each product.

“We have set up the Transparency and Price Monitoring Board and we mainly deal with basic products. One of them is flour, 90% of which is bought from bakeries. Through the board, we will make sure that all flour traders and producers bring it at the same price in every bakery so that the price is not transferred to the bread. Your electricity bill has not changed and you do not use fuel, so the whole issue is the price of flour”, said Ibrahimaj./a.a/p.s./