Appeal to businesses to “put their backs” to reduce shelf prices and inflation, addressed the new Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakosannouncing that he will begin a cycle of contacts with the collective bodies of supermarkets and the food industry, with individual businessmen but also with the representatives of the consumer movement, with the Competition Commission and the Consumer Advocate.

“In order for prices to fall, we must all join forces, the state, healthy business and consumers,” said Mr. Theodorikakos, acknowledging that the emergency measures that have already been taken are hard on the market but will continue to apply, at least until the end of the year.

In particular, the ceiling on the profit margin of businesses will be maintained, with a reference point of December 31, 2021, the ceiling of 7% on the price of baby milk, as well as the measure of the prohibition for three months of promotional actions in case of price increases.

We insist on the implementation of the measures, said the minister, because they contribute to the control of prices but also because the markets need time to function”.

He announced that, from July 1, DIMEA will be reinforced with 30 inspectors in order to intensify inspections – in cooperation with all other inspection services – for the implementation of legality and the de-escalation of prices.

He made special reference to electricity prices which, as he said, have a significant impact on consumers’ lives, but their control is not the job of the Ministry of Development. For this reason, the de-escalation of prices is an overall case of the government that is part of the wider strategy to ensure better incomes for the citizens.

Our goal, he said, is the formation of a new production model and for this reason we will create a National Strategy for Industry.

He announced that the upgrading projects in 20 industrial parks have been approved, two of which (in Volos and Corinth) are new.

He also referred to the program for the digitization of SMEs with a budget of 75 million euros and also to the “Research – Innovation” program with a budget of 300 million euros, in the context of which proposals have been submitted for the implementation of projects related to the interconnection of research with production.