Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of the department, said since the beginning of June when social distancing measures were applied, it has asked production and trading enterprises participating in its price stablisation programme so that adequate goods will be supplied to locals in a timely manner.
They have been instructed to stock a large volume of goods for reserve and be ready in all scenarios related to the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retailers, and production and business units are also encouraged to promote sales, sharing the burden with consumers in the context of the pandemic.
Nguyen Anh Duc, General Director of the Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), said in addition to joining the programme which helps stablise prices on the market, it has carried out promotion programmes in a variety of goods categories.
From now until July 10, its Co.opmart and Co.opXtra chains across the country will reduce prices from 25-50% or buy one get one free for more than 3.5 million anti-pandemic products including cloth masks and hand sanitiser, he said, adding that more than 10,000 essential products will be added to the list of discounted goods.
Many sought-after essential goods during the social distancing period are also discounted by 20-30%. They include cooking oil, sugar, rice, packaged foods and nutritious drinks. Particularly, the prices of fresh foods such as pork, seafood, vegetables and fruits were reduced by 15-20%.
Other retailers namely Big C is carrying out the "Fruit Festival Programme" to encourage customers to buy seasonal fruits from other provinces and support struggling farmers.
Municipal authorities on June 14 decided to prolong city-wide social distancing in line with the Government's Directive No. 15 until the end of June, amid complicated developments of coronavirus outbreaks in the city.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has 237 markets, 236 supermarkets, 45 trade centres and 2,735 retail stores.
