Expressed by Deputy Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Le Van Khoa at the summa-tion ceremony of 5 years of implementation of Trade Co-operation Program between HCMC Department of Industry and Trade with Southeastern-western cities and provinces in 2011-2015 and realize co-operation for 2016-2020. The ceremony was held in HCMC Party Com-mittee’s hall on March 22.

Attending the ceremony include Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa, for-mer leaders of HCMC and representatives of enterprises.

Achieved results and key tasks

Director of HCMC Department of Industry and Trade Pham Thanh Kien said the program has performed 75 projects worth VND 27,428 billion with a focus on aquaculture, trade center, food processing, of which VND 2,500 billion was poured in fresh vegetable farm.

After 5 years of implementation, HCMC has developed 10,040 price stabilization sale points. Some enterprises including Vinamilk, Nutrifood, Vissan, Cau Tre, Vinh Tien, etc. have ex-panded their agent networks nationwide, others like Ba Huan, San Ha, Pham Ton established their distribution channels in the North.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Trung, Director of Vinh Phat Company shared: “thank to the program, products of Vinh Phat have been distributed nationwide. Vinh Phat has drawn experiences through the program to enhance quality, design to meet various demands of customers”.

Regarding to supply-demand connection, Mr. Kien said a total 1,349 contracts were con-nected between localities with a two way trade of VND 22,132 billion. A total consumed goods value of HCMC’s enterprises reached VND 15,498 billion.

“A 5 year journey is not a long time but a journey of determination, creation and consensus of cities and provinces”, said Mr. Khoa. He stressed that in the framework of the program; supply-demand connection activities have not only been widespread among business com-munities in Southern localities but also reached to other localities nationwide.

To make it effective in the period of 2016-2020, Mr. Khoa requested HCMC Department of Industry and Trade to focus on key tasks: strengthening supply-demand connection activities, giving top priority to agricultural products in accordance with VietGap, GlobalGap, etc. strengthening price stabilization programs, removing difficulties for enterprises, anti-counterfeiting and trade fraud, ensuring food safety and hygiene, etc.

Enhancing quality, strengthening propaganda

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa affirmed that the program has upheld its positive results, creating comprehensive business co-operation relation between HCMC and Southeastern-western provinces and cities.

Besides, the program has helped bring goods of HCMC to remote areas. Fixed sale points have been established in most of Southern provinces. Vissan and Ba Huan are typical examples of business start-up.

According to statistics, Mrs. Thoa said, enterprises are very happy when joining the program. Vissan and Ba Huan are typical examples of business start-up with a few of sale points at initial time but now expanding its sale points nationwide.
Mrs. Thoa has praised leaders of HCMC and Southern cities and provinces in connecting and creating favorable conditions for enterprises to promote manufacturing and business activities, develops distribution systems and creates supply-demand linking bridge, stabilize market, contribute to implementation of socio-economic development targets, macro-economic stabilization and ensure social security.

She requested leaders of HCMC and of Southeastern-western provinces and cities to conti-nuously implement the program through enhancing quality of Vietnamese products to com-pete with other countries, raise awareness of consumers via the slogan “Vietnamese people gives priorities to use Vietnamese products”, develop more sale points of Vietnamese made products in rural areas.

There is a total of 31 sale points of Vietnamese made products in 24 cities and provinces, Mrs. Thoa said this figure is still very modest, requesting that each province has at least one sale point of Vietnamese made products in the coming time. At the same time, it is necessary to develop distribution teams, raise awareness of giving priority to Vietnamese products, de-velop propaganda activities on sale points that ensure food safety and hygiene.

On this occasion, The Prime Minister has awarded Certificates of Merit to 16 units, Minister of Industry and Trade granted Emulation Flag to units and individuals, HCMC People’s Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to Department of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities in the Southeast and Southwest region in recognition of their outstanding performances and contributions.

HCM CITYWEB