The Ivorian government and fish-industry representatives agreed in Abidjan on Thursday, 22 October, to provisionally reduce the price of a 20 kg carton of horse mackerel and mackerel from CFA 33,000 to CFA 30,500.
The cut amounts to CFA 2,500 per carton, or 7.6% and CFA 125 per kilogram at the level covered by the agreement. A committee will monitor whether the reduction is passed through the distribution chain to consumers because the meeting did not set a retail price.
The talks were chaired by Trade, Industry and Handicrafts Minister Ibrahim Kalil Konaté and included importers, wholesalers, semi-wholesalers, retailers and consumer representatives. Importers committed to applying the agreed reduction.
The agreement follows protests by women fish traders, including in Daloa and Abobo, over higher prices that were squeezing their margins and household purchasing power. Industry representatives called for business to resume.
The ministry described the measure as transitional. It also announced a price and margin monitoring body, while further talks are expected to cover other fish species.