Big C’s alleged discrimination against Vietnam goods under review
Big C’s alleged discrimination against Vietnam goods under review
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been asked to review whether the Big C supermarket chain operator discriminated against Vietnamese products when it recently suspended the placing of orders with local soft-line suppliers, heard an online government meeting on July 4.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh assigned the review to the industry-trade ministry at the meeting, which was attended by leaders of 63 provinces and cities nationwide.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai, at a regular press briefing on July 4, said the ministry and its subordinate agencies had worked with Central Group, the owner of the BigC supermarket chain, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Tanee Sangrat, and representatives from the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, following the abrupt suspension of purchases of soft-line products from local suppliers.
As a result, Central Group pledged to resume placing orders with 50 of the total 200 local textile and garment suppliers on July 4. In the next fortnight, it will work closely with the remaining firms and place orders with 100 other suppliers. Meanwhile, the remaining 50 firms have yet to meet their commitments as regulated in their commercial agreements, so careful scrutiny is needed, Hai said.
The deputy minister added that the suspension was part of the Central Group’s plan to restructure its business operations, which might occur in 15 days. The group has 4,000 suppliers, including 200 Vietnamese apparel firms. It had written to the suppliers, explaining that the suspension of purchases is temporary and orders made earlier will still be honored.
