Localities have taken measures to help businesses stock up for the upcoming 2013 Lunar New Year, the Tet.

Enterprises and supermarkets have launched multiple promotional campaigns in preparation for the occasion, the longest and most important festival in Vietnam .

The information was released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department at its November regular meeting in Hanoi on December 3.

According to statistics, total consumption of retail goods in the first 11 months of the year reached 2.118 trillion VND, a 16.42 percent year-on-year increase.

The ministry said most firms have prepared plans to ensure the adequate supply of goods during the 2013 Lunar New Year. The supply of goods is up 20 percent from last year.

Businesses who take part in the price stabilisation programme have paid special attention to stockpiling essential goods, such as vegetable oil, sugar, poultry, eggs and processed food, which can cater for 50 percent of the market’s demand.

Some participating businesses are concerned with purchasing power during the Tet holiday due to economic difficulties. But most are committed in ensuring goods supply at stable prices to avoid shortages and price hikes.

To meet consumer demand, some prestigious confectionary brand names have used their advantage to penetrate the domestic market, thus helping boost the Vietnamese prioritising Vietnamese goods” campaign.

To stabilise the market in the last month of the year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to develop production capacity, utilise domestic demand and consolidate distribution channels so consumers can buy goods at low prices.

It will also propose specific measures to remove obstacles faced by businesses.

The ministry will concentrate on curbing inflation and closely monitoring world markets so as to take measures that will support exporters.

For their part, relevant agencies will improve inspection and supervision of goods trading, the transport of smuggled, counterfeit and prohibited goods, cross border trading and fraud as well as cases of food safety and hygiene violation.

Meanwhile, businesses will upgrade technology and promote the use of local material to reduce production costs./.VNA