HÀ NỘI The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Association of Việt Nam Retailers (AVR) opened a conference yesterday in Hà Nội to promote links within Việt Nam’s goods supply chain and sustainable co-operation between manufacturers and distributors.

Vũ Thị Hậu, AVR vice chairwoman, said the conference aimed to build supply chains for consumer goods and speciality agricultural products. It also served as an opportunity for producers, traders and distributors to pursue collaboration in distribution. It also aimed to encourage manufacturers to produce goods with clear origins.

Lê Việt Nga, deputy head of the MoIT’s Domestic Market Department, said connections supplier and consumers have been strengthened, with goods finding their way into supermarkets and modern convenience stores nationwide.

However, firms should focus on sustaining and strengthening the supply chain, Nga said.

Speaking at the conference, Đỗ Hoàng Thạch, director of Việt Nam Agricultural Trade Promotion Joint Stock Company, said the supply chain was important to the industry. The company had regularly held trade seminars and product introduction events to connect manufacturers and distributors with consumers.

According to Thạch one challenge is the lack of knowledge among rural customers about the value of safe food. Consumers in rural markets have not had as much exposure to new products. Therefore, it is necessary to promote connections between producers and consumers in rural and remote areas.

Also at the conference, a co-operation agreement was signed between the AVR – representing its members, the distribution enterprises – and the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Joint Stock Company – a representative of some agricultural production and processing facilities. Some manufacturers and distributors also signed distribution agreements.

The conference was designed to promote the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods”.

Nga said the campaign had contributed to strong growth in the total revenue of retail sales and services.

Since the campaign started in 2009, total revenue has increased by about 10 per cent on average each year. Revenue rose 10.2 per cent in 2016, 10.9 per cent in 2017 and 11.7 per cent last year.

Nga said these were results of the remarkable efforts of the association and its member companies to strengthen supply chains to bring quality products to consumers. These efforts had helped develop domestic trade, promoting local consumption and attracting investment. VNS