Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade has directed its enterprises to increase supply by 10 per cent over the year to satisfy the demand created by the 2017 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday at the end of January, the year’s biggest shopping season. — Photo vnexpress.net

Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade has directed its enterprises to increase supply by 10 per cent over the year to satisfy the demand created by the 2017 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday at the end of January, the year’s biggest shopping season.

The holiday’s economic impact was estimated at VND23.5 trillion (US$1.1 billion), municipal authorities said at a meeting on Tuesday.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, deputy director of the city’s Department of Industry and Trade, said demand for goods would increase during Tet, with an increase particularly in essentials like agricultural products, dried food, confections, dry nuts, wine, soft drinks, beer and other beverages.

Commercial centres, supermarkets and convenience stores are expected to reserve essential goods worth a total of VND4.5 trillion.

Confectionary producers and beverage companies will produce and supply goods worth over VND9 trillion.

Household businesses in local agricultural and confectionery trades will prepare and stock goods worth nearly VND2.1 trillion.

Concerning the price stabilisation programme, Le Hong Thang, director of Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade said prices of essential goods would be inevitably volatile in the holiday but the municipal authority would prepare plans to keep prices stable.

Representative from Ha Noi Trade Corporation (Hapro), a major supermarket with many outlets in Ha Noi, said Tet offered a business opportunity for the company, and it had prepared an abundant supply of goods and would organise over 60 sales points to serve the shopping needs of local people.

At the meeting, enterprises suggested local authorities allow vehicles transporting food items and fuel to move inner city 24/7 to facilitate efficiency.

The local trade department said it would closely supervise the supply and demand of goods and services and co-ordinate with other departments and agencies to tackle problems and difficulties for enterprises.

It said it would be willing to co-ordinate cargo traffic between producers and distributors to ensure well-timed traffic and supply. It had also directed enterprises and producers to actively prepare production and supply plans to ensure stable prices. — VNS