HCM City’s total revenue from retail trade and services saw a year-on-year increase of 10.3 per cent to US$20.1 billion in the first half of this year, according to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade.

Of the total, the retail sales of goods contributed $13 billion, up 12 per cent year-on-year. Several goods recording significant sale increases, included wood and construction materials, up 21 per cent; home appliances up 19 per cent; and textile and garment, 12 per cent.

The positive retail sales growth in the period was attributed to strong development of the city’s distribution system, meeting the needs of local consumers, experts said.

As of June 2017, the city was home to 240 traditional markets, 201 supermarkets, 42 trade centres and over 900 convenience stores, the department’s statistics revealed.

The city has set a target of achieving a 9.5 per cent rise in its total retail sales and service revenues in the whole year, department director Pham Thanh Kien said.

To reach the goal, the city’s trade and industry sector would encourage all economic sectors to participate and invest in developing the distribution system, Kien said.

It would also focus on tracing origins of pork, eggs, poultry and agricultural products, as well as food and food products at wholesale markets in a bid to ensure stable growth of its retail sector.

From now till the year-end, the department would continue to cooperate with producers in the city and other localities in distributing goods directly to customers.

Developing promotion campaigns for local consumers and tourists would be also included, Kien said. — VNS