Argentina adds another company to price deal

This was announced by the Technical Coordination Secretary of Economy Ministry Lisandro Salas at the end of the meeting that Argentine President Néstor Kirchner and Economy Minister Felisa Miceli held with Marcelo Rosatto and Guillermo Ferreiro, president and executive manager of Kraft firm.

Salas stated that the agreement included eight products "to curb inflation and to achieve a foreseeable economy during 2006."

Rosatto expressed his "support" to the government move "of a joint work of public and private sector."

Businessmen considered that the policy implemented by government was "effective" and highlighted that "it is producing positive results and business and industrial sectors are observing a consensus among people that, I repeat, is bringing returns."

The product list includes packed water biscuits, assorted sweet biscuits and unfilled sweet biscuits; stew and soup pasta and noodles; baking and flan powder.

By means of the signed accord, Economy Ministry commits to contribute to macrosector stability so as to avoid increases in company cost components as well as to analyse technical-ruling instruments whose modification may generate improvements in sector activity, particularly with respect to those promoting investment and production rise.