Under the leadership of Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maïga, the Malian government continues to strengthen its efforts to consolidate the national economy through enhanced dialogue with private sector stakeholders. On Wednesday, during the fifth monthly consultation meeting, discussions focused on the effectiveness of economic policies, urgent social issues, and ongoing structural reforms.
The session served to review the implementation of the economic action plan and gather the key priorities voiced by economic operators. Among the main proposals was the temporary suspension of VAT on the import of 100,000 tons of rice—a preventive measure aimed at mitigating the impact of predicted floods on food security.
Although Mali recorded a cereal production of 11 million tons in 2024, marking a 6% increase compared to the previous year, this momentum remains vulnerable to climate risks and logistical challenges. As a result, the government plans to secure the harvest and distribution of local cereals by the end of February 2025, while ensuring the smooth operation of transport corridors to member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States.
Another focus of the meeting was the review of pricing structures for essential goods such as rice, oil, cement, and cottonseed cake. The government aims for at least a 10% reduction in indicative prices to ease the cost of living. With annual inflation estimated at 4.9% in 2024, this measure is intended to safeguard household purchasing power.
This round of talks reflects a clear political will: to pursue participatory economic governance. Minister of Trade Moussa Alassane Diallo emphasized that transparency, active listening, and responsiveness are the foundations of inclusive and sustainable growth.
