Ministry of Industry and Trade ready to respond to COVID-19

Minister Tran Tuan Anh asks localities to make sure goods supply amid COVID-19 pandemic (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Hanoi (VNA) - The COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve in a more complicated manner in many countries around the world. As of March 19, Vietnam recorded a total of 85 cases of COVID-19 infection, of which 16 had been completely cured.

Therefore, building scenarios to supply enough essential goods in all situations is the highest requirement of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to stabilise the market, ensuring the shopping needs of the people.

At a meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the March 19, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh asked agencies to establish a field survey team to work with a number of localities, hotspots and businesses.

The Minister also requested the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance to take more drastic measures to ensure market stability, thus preventing goods speculation, increasing prices, fake products.

The long-lasting epidemic will lead to an increasing demand for face masks, the Minister said, requesting the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance coordinate with the Department of Industry to complete the production process of antibacterial masks and make them available in the market.

Minister Nguyen Tuan Anh at the meeting with heads of Departments (Photo: Vietnamplus)

The Ministry will ensure supply of essential products for localities even if the epidemic lasts for a month, two months, six months and longer, Minister Tuan Anh said. In a more urgent situation, the ministry will report to the Government to mobilise national reserves to supply enough goods to the market.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said the Ministry has reviewed and ensured the ability to meet the demand for goods in each locality, in the total supply of the whole country.

Deputy Minister Hai noted that localities must have contacts of goods suppliers and manufacturers available in case of emergencies.

According to the representative of the Domestic Market Department, 55 provinces and cities nationwide have submitted reports with action plans and at 5 levelled response scenarios.

The scenarios take into account the worst situations where the lockdown is imposed, how goods will be delivered for the hot spots.

“We have experience in supplying goods for Son Loi commune, Vinh Phuc province, distributing goods at petrol stations, electricity supply, at supermarkets, selling points. The model will be scaled up incase Hanoi is lockdowned,” said the representative of the Domestic Market Department.

Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has developed a plan to prepare goods supply for the market under different scenarios of the outbreaks, including preparing the volume of goods some 30 percent -50 percent more than monthly needs of locals.

The reserve includes 46,485 tons of rice; 9,297 tons of pork; 2,675 tons of beef; 3,099 tons of poultry meat; 2 million poultry eggs; 3,070 thousand liters of cooking oil; salt, 356 tons of soup powder; 51,650 tons of vegetables and fruits; 2,582.5 tons of seafood (fresh, frozen), 2582.5 tons of processed food; Products made from cereals (instant noodles, instant porridge, dry rice, dry food ...) 464.85 million packages.

In addition, the alternatives also take into account the situation where about 5,000 people are isolated for a 30 days with a norm for 1 person for 30 days including: 18 kg of rice; 1.35 of pork kg; 15 poultry eggs; salt, 0.15 kg of soup powder; 1.56 kg of frozen seafood; 1.35 kg of processed foods; products made from cereals (instant noodles, instant porridge, dry rice, dry food ...) 60 packs.

Thus, the total amount of goods needed is 90 tons of rice; 6.75 tons of pork; 75,000 poultry eggs; 750 kg of salt, soup powder; 7.8 tons of frozen seafood; 6.75 tons of processed food; 60,000 packages of processed products from cereals (instant noodles, instant porridge, dry rice, dry rice ...).

The same day, Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade worked with manufacturers, distributors and retailers and made plans for each scenario.

Duong Thi Thanh Tam, Deputy General Director of Vincommerce, emphasized that customers do not have to worry because of the plentiful supply of goods. They should just buy enough for their families./.