Govt teams up with Concordia to help pensioners

Government has “teamed up” with Muntenia Company, foodstuffs producer, owned by businessman Liviu Tudor to put into effect a social aid programme for pensioners in the 4th District, Bucharest.

Inquired why Muntenia Company was chosen, the Government’s secretary general aerban Mihailescu said this initiative was mentioned on page 35 of the governing programme. “They paid more attention to our news conferences and read the governing programme more carefully than you did,” aerban Mihailescu said.

He added that this programme did not entail unfair competition. The Government secretary general specified it was not about subsidisation. Furthermore, the merchandise sold at the price operated by the producer was “possible” to lead to a higher sales volume.

The programme consists in setting up special stands in the five or six Concordia shops in the 4th District, to sell edible oil, rice and sugar at the production price with no extra charges. The pensioners will therefore save up to 30% and will use personalised smart cards to pay for the products.

aerban Mihailescu said the smart cards would be made by Posta Romana (Romanian Postal Company) with funds from the European Community and by Banc Post, which ensures the payment of the pensions to retired people along with Posta Romana.

The card readers will be provided by Digicom Company. Liviu Tudor, owner of Muntenia factory and of the Concordia store chain said he stood to improve his image, as the three companies would be integrated in a single programme. “We will not request any incentives,” Liviu Tudor said.