
Can Tho (VNA) – Total revenue from retail sales and services in theMekong Delta city of Can Tho is estimated at 100.5 trillion VND (4.28 billion USD)during the January-October period, accounting for 85.5 percent of the yearlyplan and an increase of 12.5 percent year-on-year.
At the municipal People’s Committee’s regular meeting on October 30, Directorof the city’s Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Hong said thatretail and service revenues are expected to reach 120.5 trillion VND (5.14billion USD) for the whole of 2018, surpassing the set target by 2.47 percent andsurging 12.26 percent from the previous year.
The positive growth in retail sales and services has been spurred by the city’sefforts in improving its transport infrastructure, which in turn has facilitatedthe transportation of goods and travel for both local people and tourists.
Reform of administrative procedures has made the city more attractive toinvestors, while on the other hand, it has bolstered internal trade activities,especially in the spheres of food, garment and textiles, consumer goods andmaterials, among others.
As the city has paid due attention to calling for infrastructure investments fortrade development, convenient stores and shopping malls are consequentially boomingacross the locality.
Import-export activities are also billed as a highlight that contributes to thecity’s socio-economic development. In the 10-month period, the city gained morethan 1.6 billion USD from exports of goods and services, or 91.3 percent of theyearly plan and surging 13.7 percent from the same time last year. The figurefor the whole year is forecast at 1.94 billion USD, exceeding the set goal by3.18 percent.
Regarding tourism, the city welcomed 7.4 million visitors in the period, ayear-on-year increase of 13.5 percent. It expects to greet some 8.42 millionvisitors by the end of this year, and pocket 3.5 trillion VND (149.4 million USD)from tourism services, rising 21.7 percent from 2017 and 1.8 percent higherthan initial estimates. –VNA