An 11-hectare centre for chemical trading will be built near Phong Phú Industrial Park in HCM City’s District 8 to replace Kim Biên Market, known as the “market of death” for its sale of toxic, and sometimes, banned chemicals. — Photo baodautu.vn

HCM CITY — An 11-hectare centre for chemical trading will be built near Phong Phú Industrial Park in HCM City’s District 8 to replace Kim Biên Market, known as the “market of death” for its sale of toxic, and sometimes, banned chemicals.   

The city will name an investor by year-end for the centre, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2017, according to the chairman of HCM City’s People’s Committee, Trần Vĩnh Tuyến.  

Tuyến said on Wednesday the centre would allow the city to provide better management of chemical sales. It will be a centre for trading, storing, product exhibition and usage.  

He asked the city’s Department of Industry and Trade to close down sales at Kim Biên market and at some other areas in the city.

At a meeting held in the city, deputy director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, Nguyễn Ngọc Hòa, said the city had about 600 organisations and individuals producing, importing and trading chemicals.

Illegal trading of chemicals has long caused concerns over food safety and posed fire and explosion risks in residential areas.

Most enterprises trading chemicals for industrial purposes are located in districts 5, 10, 11, Tân Bình, Gò Vấp and Bình Tân.

Most of their warehouses of 100 to 1,000 sq. m in size were built in residential areas. With the new centre, these substandard enterprises will no longer operate in residential areas.

Kim Biên market, which has more than 100 shops selling industrial chemicals, has been in operation for more than 50 years.

The city government has had plans to relocate the market since 2014. — VNS