Binh Thuan: Developing domestic consumption market to cope with pandemic situation

Dragon fruit - one of Binh Thuan's advantageous products is facilitated for consumption

The total retail sales of goods and services in Binh Thuan province in the first half-year reached more than VND 29,370 billion, increased by 8.5% over the same period last year (the total retail sales of goods reached about VND20,883 billion, an increase of more than 10%). Facing the epidemic impact, the industry and trade sector has still promoted activities to respond to the campaign "Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods" in the locality. In which, a Vietnamese goods market was held on Phu Quy island with nearly 20 businesses participants introducing many essential products to serve the shopping needs of the islanders.

On the mainland, the functional sector also handles certification for 4 trade exhibitions. However, only the Trade Exhibition program of Expo International Trade Group Joint Stock Company could open in Phan Thiet city, the rest have been suspended due to the complicated development of the disease. In the coming time, the industry will continue registering for deployment of the sale-point project, called "Proud of Vietnamese goods" in 2022 to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and approval.

Since the 4th waves of Covid-19 pandemic broke out and spread in many provinces and cities across the country, the functional sector has taken into consideration a solution to increasing domestic consumption in a suitable form to the actual situation. The Departments of Industry and Trade of neighboring provinces and cities have suggested to support propaganda for Binh Thuan dragon fruit consumption, especially making the connection between the local fruits  with businesses, distribution facilities, supermarkets, malls across the country. Accordingly, information is attached to a number of business units in the province (Binh Thuan Fruit and Vegetable Company Limited, Thuan Tien Dragon Fruit Cooperative, Hoa Le Clean Dragon Cooperative, Phu Hoi Organic Dragon Fruit Cooperative, Ham Duc Dragon Fruit Cooperative. , Ham Kiem Dragon Fruit Cooperative) including selling price and supply capacity.

Recently, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade also drafted a plan to support, connect and promote the consumption of agricultural products in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic to advise the Provincial People's Committee for further issuing. Accordingly, the province's dragon fruit growing area currently has totally 33,750 hectares (VietGAP certified is 11,936 hectares and GlobalGAP is about 517 hectares), the harvest is expected to reach 437,000 tons in the second half of 2021. For seafood (including catches and processed products), from June to December this year, the catch is expected to gain 142,350 tons and white shrimp is 5,000 tons.

With this output, besides promoting exports, Binh Thuan's advantageous agricultural products will focus on domestic consumption and promote consumption on digital platforms and e-commerce. Particularly, it strives to consume 80,000 tons of dragon fruit at a reasonable price through a system of supermarkets, malls (Big C, Co.opmart, Lotte ...), wholesale markets, and traditional markets. Besides, consumption on the e-commerce floor, online business is also expected to reach about 25,000 tons and 52,000 tons for businesses and processing facilities.

Under such circumstances, proactively developing a scenario for agricultural product consumption in respond to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is partially contributing to the assurance of locality implementing the "dual goal" in the new normal status.  

Translated by Uyen Linh (Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper)