VietNamNet Bridge – City authorities and enterprises should focus on stabilising the local market and ensuring sufficient supply of essential goods and commodities to meet residents’ demand during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays,
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Customers at the Metro Cash&Carry wholesale centre in HCM City. Many stores are buying up goods to meet demands during the Tet holidays. |
Quan also said Government agencies must put commodity prices under tight control and sanction individuals and organisations who illegally hoard goods for undue profit.
He urged agencies to speed up campaigns to combat smuggling, trade fraud and especially offences in food hygiene and safety.
According to figures released at the meeting, in the first 10 months of 2008, more than 1,000 residents fell victims to food poisoning, a year-on-year increase of 33 per cent.
About 38 tonnes of milk found tainted with melamine will be destroyed.
Many violations
More thaner 35 per cent of the 3,800 enterprises inspected by food hygiene management agencies in HCM City in the past 10 months have violated regulations on food hygiene and safety, and 60 have had their operations suspended.
Nine people have been killed by alcohol poisoning. Nguyen Trung Tin, deputy chairman of HCM City People’s Committee, asked Government agencies to help enterprises cope with difficulties caused by tightened monetary policies. He said an enterprise-support fund would be established to help businesses avoid closures which would lead to higher unemployment rates.
Although the prime interest rate has been lowered (by the State Bank of Viet Nam) to 13 per cent, enterprises still find lending interest rates too high. Many small-and-medium-sized enterprises are still badly in need of bank loans.
Tin said the enterprise-support fund would provide fresh impetus for enterprises to develop in the coming years.
The city authority has also urged speedier work on ODA-funded infrastructure projects. Implementation of many infrastructure projects has been hindered by the slow site clearance compensation process, the meeting was told.
According to figures released at the meeting, total disbursement of ODA loans for infrastructure projects in 2008 was estimated at VND15.5 trillion (US$920 million) but only 51.4 per cent of the amount (nearly VND8 trillion) was disbursed in the first 10 months of the year.
The highest possible disbursement rate for ODA capital for infrastructure projects by the end of this year is 87 per cent, say experts.
The city authorities also asked contractors to speed up construction works and to remove temporary fences which are causing traffic problems on main streets in HCM City by the end of the year, to facilitate transportation before the traditional Tet season.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//social/2008/10/811269/