The sector claims against a concentration of refrigerators with the new purchase of 3 plants by the Brazilian company.
The purchase of three of the four Marfrig plants by Minerva continues to generate controversy, which is why the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, fernando mattosassured that the case is being followed closely and expressed concern about a possible concentration.
The leader of Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) met this Tuesday with the president, Luis Lacalle Pou, and assured the press that it will closely monitor the purchase of the refrigerators by the Brazilian company Minerva. In addition to this, they discussed the efforts of the minister in Brazil to unlock dairy exports to the neighboring country, as well as the government’s position on the Rural Association of Uruguay (ARU) in the next edition of Expo Prado.
“What there is here is something that is notorious that it is a greater concentration of the demand for cattle,” Mattos told the press regarding the purchase of Minerva. The leader of MGAP assured that the Executive power is behind the case and just as concerned as all sectors involved. In this sense, Mattos remarked that he trusts the actions of the Commission for the Promotion and Defense of Competition which depends on Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).
In this sense, Mattos insisted on the need to carry out the actions transparently, taking into account the volumes of cattle trade in the country. “You have to be careful, you have to be patient, the government is following the issue closely,” he said, adding that it is necessary protect investments and give assurances to those who want to invest in the Uruguay.
On the other hand, he referred to the current status of the livestock market, which is very weak and stressed the importance of “giving guarantees to everyone” since it is not only about taking care of the price of the merchandise. In addition, he insisted that “there has never been such an important concentration”, so it could be harmful to the sector.
The complaints are added
The National Commission for Rural Development (CNFR), joined the demands of the sector this Monday and expressed its concern regarding the concentration of the agri-food sector caused by the purchase of Minerva. In this sense, they assured that “the negotiation could affect the commercialization and the fixing of the prices”.
That is why they remarked that “every concentration process negatively affects the family agriculture and it impacts the local economies in the same way”, for which they asked the decision-making spheres to analyze and strategically resolve all the visions. In addition, they asked to take into account “the production sustainability and national work, where family livestock production has a fundamental contribution”.
“The CNFR has always manifested itself against the concentration in few hands –who are also foreigners– in any link in the agri-food sector”, remarked the organization’s statement.
Source: Ambito
