‘Commerce’ studies proposal to hike baby formula subsidy
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About 42,000 children to benefit
KUWAIT CITY, March 23: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is considering the possibility of increasing the subsidy on baby formula from 20 percent to 70 percent, and ensuring this percentage is standardized for all beneficiaries instead of the current mechanism that relies on more than one percentage, reports Al- Rai daily. The proposal, which is being studied by the ministry, enjoys wide support for pushing towards changing the current mechanism that offers different support rates for baby formula starting from 20 percent to 50 percent. The subsidy percentage for each beneficiary was being determined by the price of the product and other rationing considerations. According to informed sources, the current debate is to first standardize the percentage of support offered to all beneficiaries for baby formula, and raise the subsidy rate to 70 percent.
It is expected that about 42,000 children under the age of two years will benefit from this decision. They revealed that the cost for supporting baby formula currently is approximately KD 5 million. The sources stated that the ministry’s actions in this regard are based on the directives of the minister Dr Abdullah Al-Salman and are aimed at easing the burdens on the citizens.
They said, “The ministry will finish preparing a decision in this regard soon”. In a related development, the sources revealed that officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are currently studying adding construction goods to the list of subsidized commodities included in the ration list, similar to the food commodities that the beneficiary receives in ration at reduced prices in addition to their subsidized rations. They said energy-saving bulbs will also be added in the ration card within the list of reduced goods, in line with the directives of the Ministry of Electricity and Water to rationalize consumption.
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