The Agu Magu Portal, a new platform that enables the public to check market prices of essential goods during Ramadan, has been officially launched. The application was launched by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the primary objective of the portal is to ensure that basic food items are available to the public at affordable prices. The portal will display the lowest available prices for essential goods in once place.
The Ministry said the portal will feature prices based on information collected by the Ministry’s inspection teams on weekly visits to shops and markets.
Speaking following the launch of the application, Minister Saeed said the purpose of the application is to enhance accessibility to household food items. He stated that essential food items are those defined by international standards.
"Among the benefits of the application, we will allow traders to post their own prices on the application. That is the next stage. Our inspectors will go to different stores and check prices. The application will allow the public to check where a specific item is available at the lowest cost,” the Minister said.
The Economic Ministry said the list of basic food items on the portal has been compiled in accordance with the standards set by international and Maldivian authorities. Currently, the list includes prices available in stores in Male’ and Hulhumale’. However, in the future, the prices of goods in the atolls will also be included.