Vegetables on shelves of a VInmart store in Hà Nội. There will be no shortage of essential goods during the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Đạt

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh said that the ministry would act to ensure supply of essential goods even in the worst-case scenario of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“There will be no shortage of essential goods or disruptions in supply in any localities,” Tuấn Anh said at an urgent meeting on Thursday afternoon.

All contingency plans must be ready for every scenario, to ensure the supply of goods even if the COVID-19 pandemic lasts six months or longer, he said. In case of emergency, national reserves will be used.

Inspections will be carried out with a focus on localities at higher risk of virus outbreaks to ensure products are of good quality and distribution is smooth.

Fifty-five of 63 provinces and cities have submitted plans to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, including details on how to transport goods to quarantined locations.

He also asked the Directorate of Market Surveillance to increase market watch to prevent speculation and the sale of fake goods.

Hà Nội increases reserves

According to Hà Nội Department of Industry and Trade, the city increased reserves by 30-50 per cent over normal demand.

Specifically, Hà Nội prepared more than 46,400 tonnes of rice, 9,200 tonnes of pork, 2,600 tonnes of buffalo meat and beef, 3,000 tonnes of poultry meat, 62 million eggs, 3,000 litres of oil, 356 tonnes of salt, 51,650 tonnes of vegetables, 2,580 tonnes of seafood, 2,582 tonnes of processed food and 464 million packs of cereal.

More than 250 million face masks and 123.9 million rolls of toilet paper will be on hand for distribution.

The municipal department would spend VNĐ174 trillion to double the volume of goods for reserves in the second quarter of this year.

At a meeting with chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung on Thursday, retailers reported that they had increased the supply of goods by 300 per cent. — VNS