Deputy PM lauds result of price stabilisation effort
Deputy PM lauds result of price stabilisation effort
Price-stabilisation programmes had shown positive results over the past months and their practical effects should be further promoted, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said on Saturday.
Chairing an online conference at the Government headquarters, Hai said price-stabilisation schemes had provided interest-free or low-interest loans to companies so they could offer essential items at lower-than-market prices.
"These were among extremely important measures of the Government to control inflation and stabilise the economy and it had positive impacts on social welfare targets," Hai said.
He said the number of localities, companies and selling points involved in the schemes had significantly increased and prices had been regularly stabilised, which he said was good news, especially for rural and remote areas.
So far, 36 provinces and cities had lent a combined VND1.65 trillion (US$79.33 million) to enterprises and there had been about 6,400 price-stabilisation selling points nationwide, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported on Saturday.
HCM City was leading in implementing the schemes, having lent VND446 billion ($21.44 million) to 20 companies.
Prices of articles sold under the programmes were around 5-10 per cent lower than those of similar items on the market, and they had kept the consumer price indices in two major cities – Ha Noi and HCM City – lower than the nation's general levels over two consecutive years.
The schemes had also helped boost consumption of domestic goods with the launching of "Vietnamese people use Vietnamese products" campaigns.
Initially only focusing on several food products at Tet (Lunar New Year), the programme had been expanded to other essential goods, including writing paper, medicines and milk, and carried out during the year.
Many firms had joined the schemes without financial aids.
"An important task is to encourage the spirit of enterprises. Joining hands with the community also helps them, especially in the current context of economic difficulties and declining purchasing powers," Hai said.
vietnamnews
