Skopje, 8 August 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Economy and Labour, Besar Durmishi, is to hold a meeting with traders, producers and distributors later on Friday to discuss the prices of food products. According to him, this will be a final warning and a message to them to act correctly. Otherwise, he said, the Government will implement rigorous measures.

Durmishi did not specify what measures may be taken. 

"Our request is that they act correctly, in accordance with the economic costs they have, and not to increase prices. This will be a final warning, a recommendation and a message to them. Otherwise, we will implement measures that will be rigorous. If they act like they did in the previous three months, they will put us in a situation where we have to make a decision that will be much more stringent. Naturally, we will respond to the citizens' needs. By inviting them to a meeting, it means that we are preparing to take measures," the Minister said in response to reporters' questions after Friday's press conference to present the "school basket" measure. 

According to him, prices are stabilizing, but there needs to be long-term solution to indirectly influence inflation. 

"After the measure ended in May, we saw inflation in the food and beverage sector of 1.1, then 0.8 in June, and now it is 0.3. So, prices are stabilizing. But although prices are stabilizing, today I will hold another meeting with all traders, producers and distributors. I expect the largest distributors and traders to attend the meeting. You will be kept up to date about our future steps and what measures we will take. We are working on finding a long-term solution to indirectly influence inflation, i.e. to support domestic producers, especially farmers, for a longer period. The National Bank and the Ministry of Finance should fight inflation in the long-run, while the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture are working in the area where they are competent," said Durmishi. 

Photo: MIA archive