Directive No. 35/2008/CT-TTg on Strengthening the Implementation of Measures to Promote Production and Business Activities, Circulation of Goods, Market Stability, and Serving the Lunar New Year 2009

DIRECTIVE

On enhancing the implementation of measures to promote production and business activities, circulation of goods, market stabilization

 and serving the Tet holiday of the Year of the Ox 2009

In recent times, with the implementation of a group of measures to curb inflation and stabilize the macro-economy, Vietnam's economy has achieved initial results. However, forecasts indicate that in the future, due to the impact of the global financial crisis and economic recession, supply and demand, as well as prices in domestic and international markets, will continue to have unpredictable developments; storms, floods, and diseases affecting livestock and crops will still have complex developments, affecting production, especially agricultural production; consumer spending in the community during the end-of-year period will increase, putting pressure on domestic market prices, particularly essential goods and services in rural areas, densely populated regions, and major cities.

To promote production and business activities, stabilize supply and demand, and stabilize market prices, preventing sudden increases in the prices of goods and services, while also ensuring good service for the people to welcome the Year of the Ox 2009 Tet holiday, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees under the direct jurisdiction of the central government shall promptly and resolutely implement the urgent policies and measures of the Government aimed at preventing economic decline, promoting production and business activities, boosting exports, ensuring social welfare, maintaining economic growth; strictly implementing the directives of the Prime Minister (as stipulated in Directive No. 28/2008/CT-TTg dated September 8, 2008, and Circulars No. 1764/CĐ-TTg dated October 20, 2008, and No. 1245/CĐ-TTg dated August 3, 2008) regarding the rectification of production and business activities, compliance with regulations on price control in the domestic market, strengthening anti-smuggling, trade fraud, production and sale of counterfeit goods, and speculation to ensure stable production, a fair and healthy business environment, and prevent sudden price fluctuations for essential goods.

Strictly organize the implementation of the Prime Minister's Directive on thrift and the prevention of waste, particularly in public expenditure and the purchase of goods and services from state budgets; closely monitor the use of state budget funds for support and relief, including materials and goods for regions affected by storms and floods; limit and thoroughly reduce expenditures in organizing meetings, year-end summaries, and gatherings.

2. Ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees recently affected by storms and floods need to concentrate all resources to guide and support the people in quickly overcoming the aftermath of storms and floods, clean up the environment, minimize the outbreak of diseases, ensure sufficient food, medicine, seeds, agricultural supplies... to quickly stabilize the people's lives, seize the opportunity to produce the winter and spring crops. Focus on resolving difficulties and obstacles for enterprises, create conditions to encourage all types of enterprises to strive to complete their production and business plans and export targets for 2008, maintain normal business operations in the months leading up to the Lunar New Year, and prepare well for the production and business plans for 2009.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees, to closely guide a group of measures to boost exports, control the trade deficit, develop export markets, and exploit the domestic market to promote the consumption of harvested products during the end-of-year period. First, purchasing 500,000 to 600,000 tons of milled rice (approximately one million tons of paddy) according to the deadline set by the Prime Minister; promoting the signing of large-scale rice sales contracts with partners and preparing for the consumption of winter-spring 2008-2009 products; simultaneously proactively implementing financial and monetary policy measures approved by the Government to accelerate the consumption of certain industrial and agricultural products currently in surplus.

4. The Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam shall promptly implement groups of financial and monetary policy measures as decided by the Government to support and promote production, business activities, and exports; create conditions for enterprises of all economic components to access production loans, while assisting in resolving business and product sales difficulties in the context of reduced export markets.

5. Based on the groups of measures to promote investment and consumption approved by the Government, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall actively coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to promptly resolve procedural issues related to investment, construction, and bidding to expedite the disbursement of state budget funds, government bonds, foreign direct investment, and ODA loans, thereby accelerating the construction of urgent infrastructure projects, primarily water conservancy, irrigation systems, transportation networks, seaports... providing a foundation for agricultural production and export services, commodity circulation, and tourism.

6. To serve the needs of the people to celebrate the Year of the Ox Tet holiday happily, healthily, safely, and thriftily, ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees under the direct jurisdiction of the central government need to pay attention to properly carrying out the following tasks:

6. To meet the needs of the people to celebrate the Lunar New Year Year of the Ox happily, healthily, safely, and thriftily, the ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of the centrally governed cities and provinces need to focus on implementing well the following tasks:

a. Direct subordinate production units to proactively grasp market demand to prepare sufficient raw materials ensuring quality, food safety, and have production, storage, and business plans to meet market requirements during, before, and after the Lunar New Year holiday, especially consumer goods, processed foods, and fireworks with reasonable prices, without causing shortages or price hikes; direct enterprises to ensure adequate and continuous supply of essential goods and policy goods, reaching remote areas, ethnic minority regions, and areas severely affected by storms and floods, in accordance with government policies and local authorities' directives.

b. Strengthen market management work through functional agencies to combat smuggling, illegal trade, commercial fraud, fake and substandard goods production and sales. Strictly inspect and control to detect, prevent, and strictly handle cases of producing, selling, transporting, storing, and using fireworks, explosives, pornographic materials, dangerous toys, and products that harm children's character; enhance food safety inspections during production, slaughter, processing, and circulation of food items, processed foods, vegetables, etc., in compliance with current laws.

c. Closely monitor price fluctuations and market conditions for essential goods in urban areas such as fuel, grains, food, fruits, etc.; proactively address unfavorable changes and ensure stable supplies and market prices, particularly for goods under price stabilization programs; inspect and supervise the implementation of regulations on price listing and sales at wholesale markets, shopping centers, etc., to strictly handle violations related to pricing, quality, and measurement fraud, protecting consumers.

d. Ministries of Transport, Public Security, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall direct transport businesses to adequately prepare transportation forces and mechanisms to encourage additional transportation capacity from outside entities, primarily within their jurisdictions, to increase inter-provincial passenger transport capacity; continue directing measures to ensure traffic safety according to government resolutions; prepare rescue forces and plans to promptly handle accidents, quickly clear traffic routes, and strictly handle violations.

đ. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Industry and Trade shall coordinate with provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees to plan and organize trade fairs and promotional sales to stimulate consumption and meet residents' and tourists' purchasing and entertainment needs; organize civilized spring fairs and recreational activities, especially in ethnic minority areas, where these events serve both traditional New Year trading and cultural exchange, healthy entertainment, and ethnic identity; coordinate with local functional agencies to implement preventive measures against fires and explosions and ensure public health, particularly for children.

7. Ministry of Information and Communications shall cooperate with relevant ministries and agencies to guide mass media organizations to effectively disseminate information and propaganda so that organizations, businesses, and the general public understand and support state policies, especially those promoting production and business, price and market control, preventing unfounded information that negatively impacts production, business, and consumer psychology, particularly during the Lunar New Year holiday.

8. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees, heads of state budget-funded organizations, Chairpersons of Management Boards, General Directors, and Directors of enterprises are responsible for implementing this directive effectively.