Nguyen Huynh Trang, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade,said the supply of essential goods would increase by 30-40 percentyear-on-year in the first quarter.
The city has also made plans to ensure supply in case of any emergency to preventhoarding and gouging, she said.
The department has been working with producers and distributors, especiallythose that are part of the city’s price stabilisation programme but also othersto ensure the supply, she said.
The assured supply in the first quarter includes 187.1 million poultry eggs,nearly 15,700 tonnes of beef and more than 35,300 tonnes of poultrymeat.
Businesses participating in the price stabilisation programme are ready to notonly ensure the agreed supply but also exceed it by 30-50 per cent, accordingto the department.
City authorities have tasked major enterprises such as the Saigon Union ofTrading Cooperatives, Saigon Trading Corporation, Saigon AgricultureCorporation, HCM City Food Joint Stock Company and Vissan Company withsupplying large volumes of goods.
Vinh Phat Wilmar Investment Joint Stock Company has stockpiled enough rice toensure supply until the end of this year while Tan Vuong Food Company cansupply until next January.
Acecook Vietnam said it would provide consumers with free foods if the epidemicdisrupts supply.
Supermarkets, malls and convenience stores in the city have also prepared forthe epidemic by stockpiling double or triple the normal volume of goods.
The city plans to keep a close eye on supply and demand of food and otheressential products, ensuring the market remains stable.
It will continue to focus on the market stabilisation programme and workingwith the Department of Information and Communications to provide accurateinformation and prevent distorted information about the market and prices.
In the long run, it will work with other localities with large sources offoodstuff supply such as Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Lam Dong, Ben Tre, Dong Thap andAn Giang to ensure there is adequate supply in the city.
It has also helped businesses access loans at low interest rates to expandproduction.
It has instructed districts to work with the city Market Management Agency toinspect and punish those who speculate in essential goods and increase prices.
Tran Duy Dong, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s domestic marketdepartment, said supply of foods and other essential goods in largesupermarkets and stores is abundant.
“There is no scarcity as feared,” he said.
“It’s true that more people are buying more goods than usual, mostly vegetablesand fruits, due to fears of shortage caused by the epidemic. However,prices remain steady.”
The ministry said it would inspect any supermarket or food store that claims tohave a short supply of goods if there are complaints from the public./.