Meeting of baker organizations with officials from the Energy area.
Among the measures designed by the Government to counter bread increases is the formation of a trust to subsidize flour prices, its main input. However, this measure, published in the Official Gazette on March 19, has not yet been implemented due to a precautionary measure imposed by exporters. For this reason, the bakery sector is requesting another short -term measure to reduce costs on its inputs: They demand a reduction in energy rates for electricity and mainly gas, a major input for cooking its products.
Sector leaders held a meeting on Tuesday with the Undersecretary of Hydrocarbons of the Nation, Maggie Videla, where they agreed to move forward with the possibility of giving a subsidy that lowers energy rates for bakeries with up to seven employees.
“Given the delay in the effective implementation of the trust arranged by the Government, we need to find other ways to resolve the difficult situation the sector is going through, and to be able to do so. continue to keep the price of a kilo of bread between $ 220 and $ 270 peso, as agreed by the Secretary of Commerce “, explained Gastón Mora, head of the Avellaneda Bakers Center” 27 de Abril “.
According to the leader, “the meeting was very positive”. And he commented: “We will now continue to talk with representatives of electricity and gas regulatory entities, to find a solution not only to the difficult situation the bakery sector is going through, but also to continue to maintain the price of bread “Mora explained.
At the meeting – which was also attended by representatives of Merlo, Quilmes, Moreno, Florencio Varela and Lomas de Zamora bakers’ centers – the need an order subsidy of 40% on the reduction of tariffs for the bakery industry.
“We are asking for a bakery subsidy for up to seven employees to really focus where the greatest need is in the industry sector. We will continue to recite the joint tables where the relevant authorities will also participate in gas and electricity to find a positive solution, not only for production but also in the final cost of the product. As the amount of energy ends up influencing the final amount of bread. For this reason, we need to reach a consensus to prevent further increases, “ pointed out by the head baker as he exited the official office.
Regarding the state of the trust or Wheat Stabilizer Fund where the Government works, the head replied: “the trust has been created, the accounts are open, the funds are from the Treasury which will be transferred when the mills are ordered. The issue is that exporters have filed a precautionary measure. Once that is resolved, it will be implemented as scheduled by the Secretary of Commerce, “said Mora.
This trust -of US $ 350 million- is expected to be fixed for increasing restrictions on soybean derivatives to subsidize the price of flour. The fund must ensure that the 25-kilo bag of 000 flour will return to Russian and Ukrainian values before the war, at $ 1,150 plus the cost of transportation.
Source: Clarin
