“There is enough food, but the risks are growing”: Svyrydenko called on chains to focus on Ukrainian products
20 January 20:27
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has called on Ukrainian retail chains to give greater priority to Ukrainian food products. She made this statement following a meeting with representatives of food producer associations, at which they discussed how businesses are operating in conditions of limited energy supplies.
Svyrydenko announced this on her Telegram channel, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Why the government is turning to retailers
According to the head of government, support for Ukrainian producers is not only a matter of economics, but also of the overall stability of the state in conditions of war and regular attacks on energy infrastructure.
“This is a matter of the overall stability of our economy. I have instructed the Ministry of Economy to develop additional measures to support producers in this regard,” the prime minister said.
Stocks and production: what about food
Svyrydenko stressed that the food situation in Ukraine is currently under control. According to her, there are sufficient reserves, and the production capacity of enterprises exceeds domestic consumption.
At the same time, the government recognizes the risks to the stable operation of the food industry due to possible emergency power outages.
Response to power outages
The Prime Minister instructed the State Emergency Service to develop a mechanism for short-term power supply to enterprises that produce basic food products in the event of sudden power outages.
She also drew attention to the issue of backup power generation. The Ministry of Energy and the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission must immediately ensure the connection and launch of generating facilities that are already owned by manufacturers but have not yet been put into operation.
“The government has taken all the necessary decisions to this end,” Svyrydenko stressed.
Reserves and food distribution points
The State Emergency Service will also strengthen coordination with producers in the regions to form operational reserves of food products. These can be used if there is a need to quickly deploy food distribution points for the population.
Earlier, the State Emergency Service reported that in emergency situations, the service is already deploying mobile kitchens so that citizens can receive free hot meals.
According to experts, the government’s appeal to retail chains has not only an economic but also a security dimension — reducing logistical risks and supporting domestic producers in conditions of unstable energy supply.
