The market stabilisation programme for essential goods in HCM City has contributed to ensure social security and meet consumer demand, especially from low-income earners, over the last 15 years, according to city authorities.

Initiated in 2002, the programme aimed to stabilise prices of essential goods during festival seasons such as the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays, when demand for these items usually increase sharply, said Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee.

From 2010, the programme was implemented throughout the year, and then expanded to stabilise prices of four commodity groups: food and foodstuffs, dairy products, essential drugs and school supplies from only food and foodstuffs in the initial stage.

Goods supply for the program is steady and abundant at reasonable prices and accounted for a large market share.

The program, therefore, has become an effective tool to stabilise the market, control inflation and ensure social security as well as contributing to the successful implementation of the Politburo Campaign “Vietnamese give priority to using Vietnamese goods” in the city, he said.

Capital allocation for the programme as well as the number of participating enterprises have increased significantly every year, from two enterprises in 2002 to 86 last year.

The programme also contributed to boost the development of trade and distribution infrastructure towards a modern society, according to a report from the city People’s Committee.

As of today, the city is home to 240 markets, 192 supermarkets, 41 trade centres, 900 convenient stores and more than 160,000 small general stores.

In addition, the number of outlets under the programme has also increased from 242 outlets, mainly located in inner city districts, to 10,552 points of sales covering all 24 districts, providing stable-priced goods to more consumers, including those in outlying districts and industrial and export processing zones.

Sharing his experience of more than 10 years in the programme, Trương Chí Thiện, director of Vinh Thanh Dat Company, which specialises in supplying poultry eggs, said the programme has created good opportunity for producers to access modern retail channels.

In addition, it also helped connect domestic firms to establish a wide distribution system, even in remote areas, he said.

Taking part in the programme since its inception, supermarket chain Saigon Co.op has invested in co-operatives, livestock breeders and farmers to ensure stable supply, hygiene and food safety for the products in its outlets.

After five years participating in the programme, Ho Quoc Nguyen, Central Group Vietnam’s PR director, which owns the Big C supermarket chain, said the programme’s biggest benefit is bringing trust to customers, especially on holidays and Tet when prices usually fluctuate strongly.

Big C will continue to participate in the programme in the coming years to enable more consumers in the city to benefit from the programme, he said.

Future plans

Talking about the orientation of the programme until 2022, Nguyen Huynh Trang, deputy director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said the programme will focus on improving market forecasts to help enterprises produce products on demand as well as mobilise all economic resources to participate in the programme.

Developing a commercial infrastructure, raising the efficiency of goods circulation, improving market management to prevent trade fraud and strengthening communication about the programme are among the tasks for the coming years, she said. — VNS