Departments of Industry and Trade have been asked to closely monitor markets and encourage businesses to stockpile goods if necessary and stabilize the prices of essential goods, especially in areas where there are coronavirus cases.

Businesses are required to report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade their plans for distributing essential goods and reaching contracts with manufacturers of health safety products like face masks and hand sanitizers that will ensure their availability at reasonable prices.

“The Ministry relies on a system of retail stores and large distribution systems engaged in the city and province’s market stabilization programs. Goods stored in the distribution systems of such programs have increased 500%. Some major distribution systems have stockpiled enough essential goods to last until December,” said Le Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department.