The Ministry of Trade initiated practical steps on Saturday to adopt a direct sales mechanism for construction materials directed at citizens, through either cash payments or flexible installment options. Arij Hussein Al-Jumaili, Director General of the General Company for Construction
Materials Trade, explained in a statement to the official agency that this launch came as a literal translation of the Prime Minister's directives, aimed at meeting the essential requirements of consumers, reducing the financial burdens placed upon them, and contributing
to regulating the local market and achieving desired stability. She added that the included list encompasses various construction, sanitary, and electrical supplies available in the company's warehouses, pointing out joint coordination with private sector institutions through the construction cooperation program
to secure vital materials such as reinforcing steel, cement, bricks, and other products at competitive prices differing from those prevailing in the local market, with installment payments exclusively facilitated via smart cards for a period extending up to two full
years. Al-Jumaili indicated that this initiative falls within government endeavors to facilitate individuals' access to building necessities at suitable prices that enhance their purchasing power, especially amidst registered shifts in exchange rates and their repercussions on commodity prices in markets,
emphasizing the company's commitment to its responsibility toward price stability and avoiding the imposition of additional financial burdens on citizens resulting from foreign currency exchange fluctuations, in alignment with governmental visions aiming to support various segments and establish local economic
balance. It is worth noting that former Trade Minister Mustafa Al-Ani had previously issued directives instructing the simplification of procedures for offering construction materials to citizens either in cash or through reduced installments without interest across various marketing centers deployed
in the capital and provinces.
