Vujović: Instead of limiting margins, the state should focus on encouraging domestic production

The new "Limited Prices" campaign, which is starting soon, is seen by businesspeople as a gesture of solidarity, not as a real development measure.

Instead of limiting margins, they say, the state should focus on encouraging domestic production, said Nikola Vujović, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, on "Colors of Morning" on TV Vijesti.

The list of about 50 products with limited prices does not include eggs, although their price increase of 30 to 50 cents per pack of ten has already been announced.

"All production inputs for those involved in egg production are increasing, and therefore eggs cannot be on the list of limited prices unless someone wants producers to suffer serious losses. In that case, there would be either a reduction in production or the disappearance of the product from the market, which is in no one's interest," he said.

Vujović reminds that gross margins of retailers in Montenegro have been stagnating or falling for years, while business costs, especially labor, transportation and rent, have increased drastically. Therefore, he says, it is wrong and unfair to present retailers as the key culprits for price increases.

When it comes to price movements in the coming period, the Chamber of Commerce says that so far there are no signals indicating new increases in basic food supplies.