Directive No. 01/2007/CT-BCT on serving the Lunar New Year Tet holiday in 2008

DIRECTIVE
On the preparation for the Tet holiday of the Year of the Rat 2008

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In the first nine months of 2007, the Vietnamese economy continued to develop, people's living standards were further improved, the total retail sales and social services for the whole year are expected to reach 714,273 billion VND, increasing by 23% compared to 2006. The domestic market remained vibrant with a diverse range of goods and services, satisfying the increasingly high consumption needs of society.

However, due to the impact of rising global commodity prices, coupled with natural disasters (droughts, typhoons, floods), plant and animal diseases, and increased purchasing power (wages, bonuses, remittances, investment capital), the prices of some domestic goods have increased, particularly foodstuffs. The Consumer Price Index for the first nine months of 2007 rose by 7.32%. It is forecast that social demand during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Rat 2008 will increase by more than 20-30% compared to the Tet holiday of the Year of the Pig 2007.

To organize well the supply of goods for the people to celebrate the Tet holiday of the Year of the Rat 2008 joyfully, safely, economically, at reasonable prices, and to strictly implement Directive No. 18/2007/CT-TTg dated August 1, 2007 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to control the rate of price increases in the market and the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung in Notification No. 201/TB-VPCP dated October 12, 2007, the Minister of Industry and Trade requests the directors of the Departments of Industry, Departments of Commerce/Departments of Commerce and Tourism, the General Corporations, and companies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to strictly implement the following tasks:

1. The Departments of Industry and Commerce shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant departments to report to the People's Committee of the locality to direct the implementation of the following tasks:

- Immediately prepare the labor force and goods and services for the Tet holiday (rice, food, candy, cookies, beer, wine, clothing, cultural products, means of transportation...) from all production and business enterprises of various economic sectors within their jurisdiction. Measures must be taken to ensure adequate production and supply of goods and services at relatively stable prices based on ensuring quality and safety for consumers.

- Develop plans for essential goods reserves to prevent imbalances between supply and demand and sudden price fluctuations before and after the Tet holiday. Special attention should be given to supplying goods to people in mountainous provinces, remote areas, ethnic minority regions, and areas severely affected by typhoons, floods, and landslides, with stable prices during the Tet holiday to ensure that every household and individual can celebrate the holiday in a warm and happy atmosphere.

- Strengthen market management, anti-smuggling, and anti-commercial fraud activities to protect consumer rights, contribute to stabilizing the market, and create a healthy competitive environment among different economic sectors. Increase inspections and supervision of the market during the days before and after the Tet holiday, especially prohibiting the circulation and use of fireworks and dangerous toys, and illegal alcohol. Emphasize food safety and hygiene work, coordinate with relevant functional agencies to strengthen inspections of food production and processing facilities and livestock and poultry slaughterhouses according to current regulations.

- Plan and organize Spring fairs and recreational activities during the Tet holiday in a manner that broadens connections, introduces new and traditional goods, making the market not only a place for trade but also a cultural exchange venue for healthy and richly nationalized entertainment.

2. General Corporations and companies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall implement the following tasks:

- Production enterprises must intensify production, improve product designs and packaging, diversify products to meet the consumption needs of all social groups, especially candies, soft drinks, wine, beer, cigarettes, confectionery, clothing, milk, and other processed foods, at stable prices, and resolutely prevent shortages and price hikes.

- Enterprises responsible for supplying policy goods (fuel oil, iodized salt) must conduct reserves and prepare sufficient quantities of goods in advance to deliver them to remote and ethnic minority areas before the Tet holiday according to the plan to meet the holiday shopping needs of the people.

- Enterprises engaged in production and business must recognize that providing goods and services to the people during the Tet holiday is both an opportunity and a responsibility towards society, thus they must carefully plan and effectively implement these tasks, ensuring adequate supplies of quality goods with attractive packaging, safety, and reasonable prices.

3. Reporting System:

- Enterprises under the Ministry of Industry and Trade participating in the production of goods for the Tet holiday must submit their production plans for Tet goods to the Ministry of Industry and Trade before November 15, 2007. Production enterprises must notify the distribution plans for Tet goods to central and local trading enterprises before January 15, 2008.

- Trading enterprises under the Ministry of Industry and Trade must submit their business plans for Tet goods before January 15, 2008.

- Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation must submit its implementation report on fuel oil supply plans for mountainous provinces before January 15, 2008.

- Vietnam Electricity Corporation must submit its report on the plan to ensure electricity supply for the Tet holiday before January 15, 2008.

- Departments must submit reports to the Ministry of Industry and Trade according to the following specific deadlines:

+ Plans for preparing goods for the Tet holiday before November 15, 2007.

+ Market situation and prices of goods for the Tet holiday (first phase before January 20, 2008; second phase before January 31, 2008).

+ Summary report on Tet holiday service provision before February 15, 2008.

During the process of organizing the Tet holiday service provision for the Year of the Rat 2008, if there are any difficulties, please immediately reflect them to the Ministry (Domestic Market Policy Department - FAX 04. 9365774 - Email: [email protected] - Telephone: 04. 9342848) for timely resolution./.