Ho Chi Minh City takes the lead among localities in the “Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods” campaign.

In 2014, the city will step up the dissemination of the campaign to change consumption habits of Vietnamese people, Nguyen Thi Hong, Vice Chairwoman of the Municipal People’s Committee, said at a conference to review the campaign held in HCM City on January 13.

It is necessary to strengthen the role of state agencies in implementing solutions to promote the campaign, such as demand stimulation programmes and trade promotion activities to promote trade and direct communication and meetings and to improve the competitive edge of Vietnamese goods in both local and international markets, she added.

Ho Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade said that over the years, the campaign’s successful contributions have helped increase the number of Vietnamese goods consumers from 38 percent to 71 percent. In addition, more than 40 percent of consumers have encouraged their relatives to use Vietnamese goods.

The campaign has urged businesses to improve product design, quality and their competitive capacity, she added.

Also at the conference, collectives and individuals were honoured for their active contribution to the campaign.-VNA