“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has reported that in late July entrepreneurs were allowed to convert 3% of the amounts in their accounts into dollars, which allowed businessmen to import food products.
The prices for select merchandise are decreasing.
The imported vegetable oil “Oleina”, which was sold at 20 manats a month ago, now costs 14 manats.
Locally produced vegetable oil “Akhal” is available in state-run stores at 3,4 manats per liter. People line up to buy the oil from 6 a.m. and it is sold out within half an hour. This brand of oil is also available in privately-owned stores but at a higher price of 11 manats.
The price for chicken has dropped down from 18 to 13 manats per piece.
Eggs are sold at 33 tenge per piece.
As regards sugar, it is still sold with a restriction of 2 kilos per person. However, there are no queues for it.
It should be emphasized that the prices went down not for all food products. For instance, a 1,5 liter bottle of sparkling water was sold at 2,5 manats whereas now it can be purchased at 5 manats.
“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has previously reported that the manufacturing of Coca-Cola drinks was resumed in Turkmenistan and the price for “Cola” dropped down from 10 to 3,5 manats per liter.
For the time being it is unclear whether entrepreneurs will be further allowed to convert foreign currency or whether it was a one-time campaign timed to coincide with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s birthday.