Online conference discusses measures to stabilise domestic market

An online conference was held in Hanoi on October 6 to discuss measures to ensure a balance between supply and demand to stabilise the prices of commodities.

The Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said that in the face of the soaring prices of oil and gas, raw materials and imported goods, the national economy remains stable and see positive changes thanks to effective solutions and an active response from the business community and the public. By September, the total retail sales and revenues from services had reached nearly VND1,150 trillion, up over one-quarter against the same period last year.

It is forecast that the consumer market will become more complicated from now until the end of the year and into early 2011. As the Lunar New Year festival is approaching, consumer demand for goods will increase. This requires the relevant agencies and businesses to mobilise all their resources to stablise the market. Special attention should be paid to ensuring the supply of home-made goods for Vietnamese to buy.

Minister Hoang also called for co-ordinated efforts to promote sales, introduce trade promotion programmes and control the supply of essential commodities such as oil and gas, fertiliser, iron, steel, print paper, cement and pharmaceuticals.