First shipment of onions, eggs and potatoes for Ramadan will hit stores during July first week: STO

The first shipment of onions, eggs and potatoes to be imported for the upcoming month of Ramadan would be available in stores during the first week of July, says the State Trading Organization (STO).

Adam Azim, General Manager Sales and Marketing of STO, one of the largest retail shop-owners in the country, said today that the shipment would arrive in Malé on the 5th of July. He said that STO would try to maintain stability of retail prices of these food items commonly used in the Maldives.

“We are trying to maintain prices of these items and preventing any increases in prices by supplying them at earlier. We believe that early and prompt supply would help prices of these items from increasing. The shipment would arrive on the 5th, and would hit stores around 8th”, said Azim.

Every year, prices of basic food items on the Maldivian menu, such as onions, eggs and potatoes skyrocket as Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, begins. STO, a trading organization owned partly by the Government and partly by the public through shares, is the largest importer of these items to the Maldives, and tries to maintain price stability of them.

Azim said that cooking oil and vegetables would also be supplied enough for Ramadan, and that shipments would come before and during the month. He said that vegetables shipments would arrive every week.

“We are importing these items in large quantities, therefore we expect that this time, unlike previous years, we would be able to sell them without any controls”, said Azim.

Azim also said that STO would wholesale to retail outlets other than its own, so that it would be easier for STO as well as customers.

“We will announce very soon, and any retailers interested in buying the said food items wholesale from us would have the chance, and our wholesale prices would be set so that they can sell the items at the same prices as STO”, said Azim.