WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) is currently working on an app to allow consumers to compare prices between different supermarkets.  

With the MEO app, consumers create shopping lists so that they can see what certain products cost in the supermarket, mini market, and tokos. Based on this, a choice can be made which product is the most advantageous where. The MEO will digitize all measurements during price controls, which could lead to a stimulation of price competition.  

MEO is introducing the app because the expansion of the Makutu Básiko 2022, a basic basket of products that can only be sold at a predetermined price, may not continue. Importers are said to be vehemently against the expansion and fear scarcity.  

Whether the Makutu Básiko will be expanded is therefore not yet certain. Minister Ruisandro Cijntje says that any expansion can provide financial relief for those who need it.