The Kuwaiti government is considering increasing subsidies on basic food items as part of efforts to contain record inflation in the Gulf Arab state, a government official said.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry held talks with the heads of the cooperative supermarkets to discuss which foods which could be sold at reduced prices, newspaper Al-Qabas quoted Rasheed Al-Tabtabae, undersecretary at the ministry, as saying.

"The meeting was to discuss some commodities and foods which could be offered to the consumer at lower prices," Tabtabae told Qabas after meeting.

The ministry was considering adding items such as frozen chicken, olive oil, soap, juices and babies' nappies to a food card scheme, said Qabas citing sources, echoing similar reports by newspapers Awan and Al-Wasat.

The world's seventh-largest oil exporter is fighting record inflation, as housing and food costs soar.

Daily Al-Rai said cooperative supermarkets had agreed with the Commerce Ministry to force importers to reduce the prices of basic commodities such as milk and detergents.

Commerce & Industry Minister Ahmad Baqer presented to the cabinet a report by a committee tasked with drafting suggestions to fight inflation, including a review of food subsidies, stricter price controls and breaking the hold of sole import agencies, state news agency Kuna said.-Reuters