Supply of goods and prices remain stable

During the second period of social distancing according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, due to efforts to implement supply and stockpile plans, organize roving sales, arrange sales at commune-level post offices, conventional markets etc., commodity markets in localities in the province have met people's consumption needs.

Adequate supply of goods

According to Phan Thi Khanh Duyen, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Industry and Trade, amidst the growing rage of Covid-19, the department issued six plans on the supply of food and essential goods to cope with emergency situations in the new period. The department also intensified the inspection and supervision of disease prevention control at supermarkets, commercial centers and convenience stores in the province. Department of Industry and Trade established 15 teams to inspect disease prevention and control and goods supply at 99 markets, 11 supermarkets, and 304 convenience stores.

Adequate goods supply well meets people's demand. In photo: Consumers shop at Binh Duong Big C.

The industry and trade authority also promptly proposed a plan to divide the frequency of going shopping at conventional markets; issued official letters to concerned agencies and localities to support and assist organizations, such as Viettel Post, Post Offices, Aeon Mall, etc. to arrange selling locations, convenient transportation of necessities. Accordingly, Department of Industry and Trade promptly collaborated with People's Committees of districts, towns, and 13 enterprises to stabilize the market, implement many solutions to supply goods in a timely manner to people, especially in isolation, lockdown areas. Specifically, the supply of goods was increased from 130 to 150% at opening supermarkets and convenience stores. 100% of businesses apply online sales to serve people. Currently, Provincial Post Offices and some fixed localities organize sales to stabilize the market at 48 locations in 9 districts, towns and cities (alternately from 10 to 15 locations/day), total volume of goods per day is from 6-7 tons of vegetables and fruits of all kinds, 1.5 tons of fresh meat.

The province has now 11/12 supermarkets, 282/304 convenience stores and 36/99 conventional markets remaining open. The system of markets, supermarkets, and convenience stores still ensures the sufficient supply of essential goods and stable prices to serve the shopping demand of people. People were given signed papers to go buying necessities at a specified time. Purchasing power has been stable, there was no goods hoarding or sudden price increase.

In the epidemic conditions, localities in the province have also actively mobilized cooperatives and other organizations, individuals to organize mobile sales. Every day, on average, each locality organizes 4 - 6 mobile sales trips with a total volume of goods estimated at 1.2 - 1.5 tons. Some localities, such as Di An City, Thuan An City, continue to encourage individuals and organizations to organize more mobile sales, "necessities of VND0", "have somebody buy foods for you" for residents in isolation areas. People's Committee of Ben Cat Town also opens "outdoor market" in My Phuoc, Chanh Phu Hoa, Hoa Loi wards and continues to expand this form. Up to now, Department of Industry and Trade instructed the effective management of road freight transportation service by motorcycles (Shipper).

Safe shopping

Vo Nhat Vu, Director of Big C Binh Duong Supermarket, said: “Big C and GO! supermarket system have a large stockpile of essential items. In Binh Duong, Big C and GO! are also offering promotions and discounts to support people, help them save money in the current period. Learning from goods distribution experience in previous social distancing periods, people should not be impatient to hoard goods, should not rush to shop, that will create great pressure and overload for the distribution system."

Currently, in order to ensure the safety of shopping activities, the industry and trade authority is checking and prioritizing testing and vaccination against Covid-19 for all employees working in the province's commercial system. From July 28, Department of Industry and Trade established a Covid-19 testing and vaccination team, have organized rapid tests for 1,430 employees of 11 supermarkets in the province to screen and isolate F0s in a timely manner, ensuring that the commercial system operates continuously and safely.

Phan Thi Khanh Duyen said that in the coming time, the industry and trade would continue to monitor the stockpiling of essential goods of enterprises participating in market stabilization, ask units to quickly report the situation of stockpiles of essential goods at markets, supermarkets, and commercial centers. Department of Industry and Trade also asked Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate and increase the supply of agricultural products for consumption in the province. Localities have been proactive in terms of supply of essential consumer goods as well as medical items for disease prevention and control.

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh