Directive No. 2008/CT-TTg on enhancing the implementation of measures to promote production and business activities, circulation of goods, market stabilization, and serving the Lunar New Year (Tet) Canh Dau 2010

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening the Implementation of Measures to Promote Production and Business Activities, Stabilize the Market, and Serve the Tet Holiday in the Year of the Tiger 2010

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Although the financial crisis and global economic recession have directly affected the achievement of the national socio-economic development goals for 2009, thanks to the leadership of the Party, the focused, resolute, timely guidance of the Government and local authorities, the efforts of enterprises, and the involvement of the entire political system in organizing and implementing policies and measures to boost production and business activities, import and export, and ensure social welfare, the economic downturn has been curbed, with the growth rate of each quarter being higher than the previous one, industrial production recovering and growing; agricultural production developing quite well; the service sector, especially the domestic market, experiencing relatively rapid growth; commodity prices being controlled; total social investment increasing; and social welfare continuing to be ensured.

Alongside these positive results, investment, production, exports, and tourism recovery are slow; natural disasters causing severe damage, particularly in central and Central Highlands provinces; people's living conditions in some areas remain difficult.

To promote production and business activities, stabilize the market, and serve the people well during the Tet holiday in the Year of the Tiger 2010, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Ministries, sectors, and localities shall proactively review and assess the results of their guidance and management of socio-economic development within their jurisdiction, promptly apply necessary measures to continue effectively implementing stimulus policies and measures to boost production and business activities and promote growth; maintain macroeconomic stability, and prevent high inflation from returning. Focus on guiding the implementation of appropriate mechanisms, policies, and solutions to fully utilize local and national resources to accelerate development.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees of centrally governed cities shall direct relevant agencies to strengthen inspection and supervision of water management, ensuring water supply and preparing sufficient fertilizers, seeds, and livestock breeds to meet the needs of agricultural production in a timely and adequate manner with quality; proactively implement measures to prevent drought and diseases affecting crops and livestock.

3. The State Bank of Vietnam shall actively manage monetary policy flexibly, effectively using interest rates and exchange rates as tools to maintain stability in the money market and ensure the safety of the system, contributing to macroeconomic stability; guide and direct commercial banks to ensure funding sources, simplify procedures to facilitate loans for businesses, household producers, cooperative farms, and individuals for production and business activities.

4. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall proactively coordinate with related ministries and local People's Committees to implement measures to create sources of goods and reserve commodities; closely monitor market supply and demand trends, take intervention measures or report to competent authorities for timely intervention to prevent shortages and price hikes before, during, and after the Tet holiday; direct market management agencies to strictly inspect and handle violations of counterfeit goods, substandard products, and fraudulent measurements; effectively implement the consumption stimulation program, encouraging the public to follow the Party and State's policy of "Vietnamese people prefer Vietnamese goods."

5. The Ministry of Finance shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and localities to closely monitor price levels, especially essential consumer goods during the Tet holiday; inspect and control the implementation of price labeling regulations, sales according to labeled prices, and service fees; prevent and handle price increases, particularly for goods serving Tet holiday needs and nutritional items for children, to avoid unjust profits.

6. The Ministry of Transport and People's Committees of centrally governed cities shall focus on directing the prompt repair of roads damaged by typhoons and floods; implement measures to ensure traffic safety; direct transport enterprises to prepare sufficient manpower and vehicles, ready plans to mobilize qualified vehicles to meet transportation needs promptly, conveniently, safely for the public's travel during the Tet holiday; prepare rescue forces, respond quickly to accidents, clear traffic, and strictly handle violations.

7. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall cooperate with People's Committees of centrally governed cities to organize trade fairs, exhibitions, promotional sales effectively to stimulate consumption and meet the shopping and festive needs of various social strata and tourists.

8. The Ministry of Health and local People's Committees shall strengthen direction and supervision of compliance with food safety, environmental hygiene, disease prevention regulations, especially avian influenza, acute diarrhea, and dengue fever, to ensure public health safety.

9. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall coordinate with related ministries and agencies to guide mass media organizations to properly perform information and propaganda work so that the public clearly understands and supports the Party and State's policies and solutions, especially those promoting domestic production and business activities, stabilizing prices and markets; prohibit the production, transportation, sale, and burning of firecrackers to ensure traffic safety and food hygiene; adherence to regulations on information dissemination on communication means, not disseminating unverified or harmful information affecting production and business activities and consumer psychology, especially during the Tet holiday.

10. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall proactively coordinate with ministries and competent agencies within their jurisdictions to direct and implement policies encouraging enterprises to adequately prepare essential foodstuffs and necessities, organize the transportation and circulation of goods to remote areas, especially rural regions and areas with difficult transportation conditions, islands; ensure that there is no shortage of foodstuffs, necessities, or goods; mobilize local resources to respond to natural disasters, while directing all levels of authority to cooperate with functional forces to strengthen fire prevention and control work within their jurisdictions.

11. The Minister of Transport, the Minister of Public Security, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and the Chairpersons of the Traffic Safety Committees shall direct competent agencies to intensify inspections to ensure that all organizations and individuals comply with and properly implement traffic safety regulations, particularly technical safety standards and quality requirements for vehicles operating on roads and waterways, strictly handle violations, and resolutely suspend operations of vehicles not meeting safety standards, primarily passenger-carrying vehicles.

12. The Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall strictly implement Directive No. 406/TTg dated August 8, 1994, issued by the Prime Minister, prohibiting the production, transportation, sale, and use of fireworks; direct competent agencies to enhance supervision in border areas, especially at checkpoints and borders, promptly detect and prevent smuggling, transportation, consumption, and use of various types of fireworks, and strictly deal with violators according to the law.

13. Ministries, agencies, and authorities at all levels shall strictly implement the Prime Minister's Directive on thrift and waste prevention, particularly in public expenditure, procurement of goods and services from state budgets; supervise to ensure that support and relief (including materials and goods) provided to disaster-stricken, flood-affected, epidemic-affected areas, and poor households are accurate and in accordance with regulations; limit and thoroughly economize on expenditures for organizing conferences, year-end summaries, and meetings; organize good visits to poor families and policy beneficiaries.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible before the Prime Minister for organizing and implementing this Directive./.