HÀ NỘI — The capital city of Hà Nội will ensure supply and demand for essential goods is in place ahead of the New Year of 2019 and Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays.

That was the message from Deputy Director of Hà Nội Department of Industry and Trade Trần Thị Phương Lan who said to reach those targets, the People’s Committee of Hà Nội has been implementing a programme on stabilising the market for essential commodities.

According to the programme, the authorities have advised businesses in the city to increase inventory by between 10 per cent and 15 per cent per month until the Lunar New Year festival. This plan would be based on population, business situation of each company and development of the market in the first nine months this year, Lan said.

Supply of some essential goods leading up to the holidays is estimated to be around 190,600 tonnes of rice; 44,000 tonnes of pork; 14,600 tonnes of chicken; 12,306 tonnes of beef and 11,200 tonnes of seafood products. They include 12,800 tonnes of processed foods; 254,400 tonnes of vegetables; and 200 million litres of wine, beer and soft drinks as well as garment and electrical goods.

An estimated value of goods for the people in Hà Nội is VNĐ28.5 trillion (US$1.21 billion), up by 10 per cent compared to the stockpiling for the Tết holidays this year.

Selling prices of goods participating in the programme will be consolidated by the Department of Finance and published on its website. In the case of price fluctuation, enterprises should inform and adjust the selling prices under instructions from the department.

The People’s Committee has asked the enterprises to use their own capital and take loans from credit institutions to stockpile under the price stabilisation programme.

There are 18 enterprises registered to take part in the programme to bring goods to 10,428 points of sale. Meanwhile, three credit institutions have registered to give loans to the enterprises of the programme with a total capital of up to VNĐ2.7 trillion.

In addition, Hà Nội has organised a conference on cooperation in consuming food and farming products and solutions on sustainable development of the agriculture in the city.

Businesses will take part in activities to promote consumption of agricultural products in Hưng Yên, Hải Dương, Bắc Giang, Lào Cai and Lạng Sơn provinces. Therefore, the enterprises in Hà Nội have signed 400 memorandums of understanding on cooperation and promotion in the consumption of products, according to Lan.

Hà Nội’s authorities have encouraged the enterprises to open points of sale in towns, industrial zones and export processing zones to meet the needs of the people and labourers. — VNS