Hapro plans to arrange 51 locations to sell products at stabilized prices. (Photo: Thao Nguyen)
(VOVworld) – The 2014 Lunar New Year will arrive in one month and two months ago, Hanoi’s People’s Committee asked relevant agencies to prepare enough goods to meet public demand. Stabilizing prices of essential goods for Tet has received particular attention.
Hanoi’s People’s Committee has asked 13 enterprises involved in the local price stabilization program to stockpile as large a volume of goods as they’ve committed to: goods worth almost 15 million USD which include 5,500 tons of rice, 900 tons of pork, and 300 tons of frozen seafood.
Under the program, in addition to sales in fixed locations, companies are asked to increase the number of mobile vendors selling items at stabilized prices in industrial zones, processing zones, and outlying districts.
Dao Quang Vinh is Director General of the Vinh Anh Food Technology Company, a member of Hanoi’s price stabilization program. Vinh furthers: “We were asked to stabilize the price of pork and given a loan worth nearly 1.2 million USD. With the money, we have signed contracts with major farms in Hanoi and neighboring provinces to ensure supplies with high food safety.”
Trading companies, supermarket systems, and retail centers in Hanoi have also been asked to increase their reserves for Tet to 20% more than last year. 90% of the goods are domestically made. Phan Boi Ngoc, Director of the Lan Chi supermarket system, says that with such preparations, Hanoi will surely meet public demand.
Ngoc says: “We’ve stored more than 2,000 tons of cooking oil and confectionary to serve the needs of those who live in the city’s western part and neighboring areas. Our reserved goods of high quality, clear origins, and preferential prices have increased 50% compared to previous months.”
Vu Vinh Phu, Chairman of Hanoi’s Supermarket Association, says supply sources for the upcoming Tet holiday are ready. Phu says: “Hanoi’s trading sector, supermarkets in particular, has made careful preparations for Tet. It’s forecast that prices will fluctuate very little because purchasing power remains low and people’s incomes haven’t improved much. Prices are likely to rise as much as 15% between Kitchen God Day and the 29th day of the last lunar month, particularly pork, chicken, and pork-pie.”
Public purchasing power is expected to rise before, during, and after Tet. (Photo: dantri.com.vn)
Purchasing power is expected to increase 15 to 18% during the month of Tet. Nguyen Thi Nhu Mai, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Trade and Industry Department, says Hanoi will buy seafood and rice from Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, and Thai Binh while pork and vegetables will be supplied by Hai Duong and Bac Ninh province.
Mai mentions the plan: “The municipal plan aims to stabilize market prices, ensure the balance of supply and demand, boost production and circulation of goods, stimulate purchasing power, and guarantee social security.”
The amount of goods stockpiled under the price stabilization program will ensure that people in Hanoi have a happy Tet holiday.