Ho Chi Minh City has set out to achieve a 10-10.5 percent growth rate in trade and services this year, of which total retail sales are expected to rise by 15.3 percent to nearly 700 trillion VND (32.8 billion USD).

The city also targets a 10 percent import-export growth earning 29.23 billion USD in revenue.

According to Deputy Director of the Municipal Department of Industry and Trade Le Ngoc Dao, to achieve the goals, a number of measures will be implemented in order to boost the export of processed industrial products with high added value, reduce the import of luxurious products and increase the purchase of machines and equipment for production and business.

Phan Thi Thanh Minh, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s southern affairs department, said that the industry and trade sector recorded remarkable achievements despite numerous economic difficulties last year.

As a spearhead for national economic development, the city has implemented effective measures to develop trade and services and gain consumer trust through promotion, market expansion, and product quality improvements, she said.

She suggested the city provide more support for local producers and exporters to ease business difficulties.-VNA