OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2009. The Industry and Trade Ministry (Minpromtorg), jointly with the Economic Development Ministry and the Agricultural Ministry, intends to take measures to monitor prices for socially significant food products. As representatives from Minpromtorg's PR department said, a decision to this effect was adopted on Tuesday after an inter-departmental meeting at the ministry. The meeting discussed measures aimed at optimizing mutual relations between retail chains and agricultural businesses, including those with regard to the timing and terms of payment for products supplied and sold. "Prices will be monitored in cooperation with the Economic Development Ministry and the Agricultural Ministry in the range of 6-8 items" – a source said. According to the same source, issues were also raised at the meeting concerning cooperation mechanisms within the chain for delivering agricultural products to retailers. "Specifically, the use of factoring schemes to optimize payment cycles is being discussed" – Minpromtorg representatives noted.