(VOVworld) – 15 years ago, Ho Chi Minh City was the first locality in Vietnam to implement a market stabilization program, enabling city dwellers to buy high-quality essential goods at affordable prices. 

Essential goods are sold at affordable prices in supermarkets

The 15-year-old market stabilization program has achieved its goal of ensuring social welfare and meeting low-income families’ need for essential goods. Nguyen Thi My works in the Linh Trung I Export Processing and Industrial Zone, Thu Duc district:“The prices are reasonable. The quality of goods is improving, gaining consumers’ trust.”

There are now 10,500 shops offering essential goods at subsidized prices, compared with only 240 shops in the beginning. 86 enterprises are selling rice, cooking oil, sugar, milk, and eggs. Many enterprises have developed distribution networks and brands and work with producers to ensure a steady supply of goods. Nguyen Thanh Nhan is Director General of the Saigon Trading Cooperatives’ Alliance:“My policy is to invest in credible producers of food to ensure food safety and hygiene and a dependable supply of goods.”

Ho Chi Minh City is combining traditional and modern distribution systems and optimizing trade infrastructure to improve the price stabilization program. Nguyen Huynh Trang, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Trade and Industry, said:“We are focusing on the quality of goods and goods' supply. A tool for tracing pork origins is being used and this will be applied to chicken, vegetables, and fruit. Subsidized goods should be of good quality.”

The city’s market stabilization program is coordinated with a campaign to encourage Vietnamese to buy made-in-Vietnam products.