Prime Minister Edi Rama called on supermarket representatives in the country to avoid making unfair profits at the expense of consumers. In the context of the new digital platform for price transparency, "Price Dashboard" (Pasqyra e çmimeve), Rama held a meeting on Friday with representatives of the country's supermarkets and major suppliers.

According to the PM, it would be foolish for the government to set prices, and no one is asking entrepreneurs not to make a profit. Rama emphasized that this is not personal; the government is simply seeking greater price transparency. "I do not think we are asking you to make any sacrifices. We are not asking you to turn into charitable organizations. We are saying: make a profit, but let others breathe," Rama urged.

Rama called for a joint commitment, confirming the participation of retail chains in an initial pilot phase. He requested that the full list of stores and addresses be displayed so that everyone can view prices across different retail locations. Furthermore, the head of government called for the establishment of a common standard regarding the frequency of price updates and the speed at which changes are reflected on the platform. Rama emphasized that it is unacceptable for prices here to be higher than elsewhere.

“The Bank of Albania’s figures indicate three things: first, that the depreciation of the euro should have led to a reduction in prices linked to the euro; second, that imported inflation has fallen; and third, that there is an alarming situation regarding the pricing of domestic products,” Rama said.

Also present, the Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj announced that the government is identifying opportunities to revise taxes on food products with the aim of providing relief to consumers.

During the meeting, Malaj emphasized the importance of analyzing margins throughout the entire price formation chain - from production or importation to the final consumer. Such an analysis, Malaj noted, would enable the Ministry of Finance to better understand the price structure and identify areas where fiscal policy interventions could help alleviate the burden on consumers.

During the meeting with supermarkets and suppliers, the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, announced that work is continuing on the "Price Dashboard" initiative, which aims to ensure transparency and provide information on domestic price levels at the product level.

In her remarks, Minister Ibrahimaj admitted that the strengthening of the lek and the depreciation of the euro should have inevitably led to a reduction in prices, given that at least 40% of the products in the consumer basket are imported.