Cities increase goods supply to avoid price shocks before Tet

Hanoi (VNA) – With Tet, the Lunar New Year of Vietnamese, approaching, manufacturers and importers in big cities like Hanoi and HCM City have plans to increase supply of essential goods during the holiday, so there will not be price shocks caused by shortages.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stocks of essential commodities rose by 10-15 percent from last year to prepare for Tet. It was estimated that the two metropolises have so far produced more than 43 trillion VND (1.89 billion USD) worth of goods in total for the biggest festival of the year.

Hanoi has expanded its pre-Tet stocks by 10 percent from last year but the capital city is only capable of providing adequate supply of pork and chicken while supplies of other goods will have to rely on imports or sources outside the city, said Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan.

Hence, Hanoi has improved trade links with cities and provinces across the country not only to seek for suppliers but also to help them sell farm produces and specialties, she noted.

In addition, the department will host ten trade fairs and launch 200 mobile shops in the city’s outskirts – Me Linh, Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Oai, Quoc Oai, Chuong My, Ung Hoa, Thuong Tin, Thach That, and Dan Phuong districts – to meet demand of people there. On display at the fairs will be mainly foods, seafood, clothing, footwear, electronics, appliances, and traditional handicrafts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Industry and Trade of HCM City unveiled that producers and distributors in the city will offer plentiful special offers on essential products like beverage, confectionary, and clothing with a total discount of about 1.2 trillion VND (52.8 million USD).

Many firms have guaranteed sharp price cuts on essential foods, such as pork, chicken and eggs, two days before Tet which falls on February 16.-VNA