On the occasion of World Consumer Day, celebrated this Sunday, March 15, the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts, Kalil Konaté, reaffirmed the Ivorian government’s commitment to protecting consumers and preserving the population’s purchasing power.
“The protection of the population and their purchasing power are at the heart of President Alassane Ouattara’s policy,” he emphasized.
The minister noted that, upon taking office in January, he made the issue of food prices a priority, describing it as “a pillar of the President of the Republic’s social and economic policy.”
In this context, he highlighted the various measures implemented by the government to regulate markets and combat the high cost of living. In particular, he cited the National Council for Combating the High Cost of Living, a body tasked with supporting the ministries involved in implementing public policies aimed at controlling prices.
The minister also mentioned the National Consumer Council, which serves as a forum for dialogue among consumer representatives, industry professionals, and public services, with the aim of strengthening consumer protection.
In addition to these mechanisms is the Rapid Response Brigade (BCR), whose agents are deployed in the field to investigate complaints and reports filed by consumers.
Minister Kalil Konaté also called on supply chain stakeholders—particularly business operators and merchants—to strictly comply with the measures adopted by the government.
“I would like to call on economic operators and merchants to demonstrate responsibility and economic civic-mindedness in order to preserve market stability and the purchasing power of the population,” he stated.
In the same vein, he urged consumer organizations to continue their efforts to raise awareness, educate, and support citizens.
The government, he said, remains attentive to developments in the global economic landscape, which is marked by tensions in the commodities markets and rising transportation and energy costs—factors that could affect the prices of certain consumer goods.
With this year’s theme, “Safe Products, Confident Consumers,” World Consumer Day reflects, according to Minister Kalil Konaté, the government’s commitment to strengthening product safety, consumer protection, and the preservation of consumers’ social well-being.
Finally, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive economy that better protects the interests of consumers in Côte d’Ivoire.
