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Sierra Leone Gov’t opens shop to sell local produce

  • Dr Hinga Sandy, Minister of Trade

By Prince Musa in Kenema

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandi, has officially launched a community store for the Sierra Leone Produces Marketing Company (SLPMC) in Kenema. The store which is one of many will sell both locally produced and imported rice at a lesser cost compared to the private businesses.

During the opening ceremony in the district, Managing Director of SLPMC, Gerald Demby, said, “SLPMC aims to reduce the prices of food commodities in the country. We want to make sure that it is affordable and accessible, and sold at a cheaper cost.”

He added: “The coming up of SLPMC community stores is not to suppress any business partner. We want to create competition within business enterprises. The prices of SLPMC imported rice will be cheaper than other business enterprises.”

Dr Sandi said the opening of the shop is part of government’s greater commitment to make food cheaper for citizens. During the program, he also announced an initiative through which government will support farmers to grow more crops.

“SLPMC is working with sister institution Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDA) of which twenty two billion leones have been set aside for microcredit to help farmers and traders,” he said.

Resident Minister East, Ansu Fatorma, praised the initiative. He however warned SLPMC management not to sell the rice to wholesalers who will sell the rice at a higher price.

“The SLPMC management should not sell the rice to people who may want to buy large quantities to go an sell at higher prices,” Fatorma said, whiles warning that anybody, whether wholesalers or retailers, who intended to buy the SLPMC rice in large quantity to make high profit would face the brunt of the law.

Government has waived off Goods and Services Tax on food and other essential commodities, but that has not stopped the hike in prices.

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