Lazada is offering a stimulus package to help small- and medium-sized enterprises get through this challenging period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stimulus package, which will run until the end of May, seeks to help an estimated 45,000 local SMEs with a series of benefits such as a fast track for on boarding for reputable offline businesses and a dedicated programme to help boost traffic online for the most vulnerable sellers.

The fast track significantly shortens the time for businesses to set up their store online and upload listings, which will enable them to quickly diversify their revenue streams and offset the decline in offline sales.

New sellers, especially those who are new to or have very little experience in e-commerce, will receive free, dedicated support from Lazada and training at Lazada University.

James Dong, CEO of Lazada Vietnam, said: “Local SMEs are the lifeblood of a country’s economy and essential to people’s livelihoods, and many are now suffering from the economic effects of the virus outbreak. With this stimulus package, we hope to provide an online lifeline to small businesses. We want to protect the community, sustain jobs and businesses, and strengthen the Vietnamese economy.”

Lazada has also launched in Viet Nam a new fresh foods category on its platform with delivery in two hours.

More than 10 well-known brands and businesses that supply fresh groceries are on, including Meat Deli and Mega Viet Phat, which sell fresh meat, Foodmap and Hiep Nong, which sell vegetables and other agricultural items, and dairy company Lothamilk.

Lazada is looking to add more sellers of foods and other necessities under this programme, which is first being rolled out in HCM City. It plans to expand to Ha Noi and other places soon.

It requires suppliers of fresh foods to have the food quality and nutrition certifications.

Dong said: “By partnering with businesses and leveraging our logistics strength, we can deliver – within two hours of the order and right to the doorsteps of our customers – delicious and nutritious fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish for them to enjoy safely from their own homes.” — VNS