HCM CITY – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and this city’s People’s Committee hosted the launch of Vietnamese Consumer Rights Day 2017, themed "Enterprise for Customers", here on March 12.

Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh said at the ceremony that this theme reinforced the important position and role of enterprises in protecting consumers, calling on enterprises to follow existing regulations on this issue.

This theme also reflected the commitment of state management agencies to create a business environment with healthy and equal competition for market development, he said.

On behalf of MoIT, the minister urged businesses to assert themselves through the best fulfillment of their obligation to secure the legitimate interests of consumers. The enterprises should consider the requirements and aspirations of consumers as the driving force of their competition and business development.

Announcing the plan on the occasion of Vietnamese Consumer Rights Day 2017, Nguyễn Thành Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCM City, said the people’s committees of municipal districts would strengthen their co-ordination to find solutions for consumer protection efforts, based on existing regulations.

Enterprises trading goods and services will take more responsibility for protecting customer rights, he said. In particular, social organisations that protect the customers’ interests and the media will actively raise public awareness of customer rights protection initiatives in the community.

Meanwhile, Phong said the city’s authorities had pledged to actively build a healthy economic environment and ensure fair competition for enterprises in investment, business and responsibility on protecting interests of customers’ interests.

At the launch ceremony for the event, a representative of MoIT signed agreements with enterprises joining the Enterprises’ Actions for Customers 2017 programme. These enterprises included Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Ltd, Sun Resources Food Co Ltd, Kim Hang Aluminum and Plastic Joint Stock Company, Mobifone Corporation and LOTTE Mart Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Tô Kiều Trinh, marketing director of LOTTE Mart Việt Nam, said his company would work closely with MoIT to develop a customer protection programme to be deployed at its 13 trading centres and hypermarkets.

The Prime Minister’s Decision 1035/QĐ-TTg, issued on July 10, 2015, set March 15 as Vietnamese Customer Rights Day.

The launch ceremony of the event is held on this date every year to confirm the importance of protecting the customers’ interests to ensure the stable and sustainable development of society and the nation. The event contributes to a healthy consumption environment for both customers and businesses. — VNS