Many bottlenecks in trade and services
On July 11, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City organized a seminar on the topic "HCMC's development space - Driving force from building supply chains and retail", with the participation of leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and many experts.
Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City - commented that Ho Chi Minh City has been playing the leading role, accounting for more than 20% of the total retail sales of the country, contributing greatly to the key economic region in the South.
However, the trade - service sector still has many bottlenecks such as: unsynchronized trade infrastructure; supply chains and distribution systems lack linkage; e-commerce develops rapidly but lacks linkage with logistics, production and supply chains... Currently, the Department of Industry and Trade has identified a number of key tasks in developing trade and services in the coming time.
"A question is what is the driving force for the growth of the industry and trade? Through the seminar, we hope to listen to opinions, analyze practices and recommendations and constructive solutions, so that on that basis, we can synthesize, advise and propose to Ho Chi Minh City leaders to have appropriate and effective development policies," Mr. Vu emphasized.
Cai Mep - Thi Vai will be the gateway to the sea, participating in global competition
Dr. Do Thien Anh Tuan - Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management - said that Ho Chi Minh City's economic density is very high, up to more than 400 billion VND/km2, with great potential for development in trade, services and retail. In the coming time, it is necessary to orient the development of HCMC's trade in terms of vision and strategy.
"Based on the established reality, Ho Chi Minh City has full potential to become a consumer and shopping center of East Asia. After the merger, Ho Chi Minh City will have all the conditions to become a leading multi-polar supercity in East Asia," said Mr. Tuan.
Mr. Phan Huy Chi - representative of the Vietnam Commodity Exchange - raised concerns about many problems, when e-commerce is developing rapidly but there is still a lack of risk prevention tools, prices; or there are many shortcomings in the testing and quality inspection of goods...
Mr. Cao Hong Phong - Chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Logistics and Seaport Association - said that it is necessary to determine the space of Ho Chi Minh City with 2 groups of import-export and domestic logistics. In particular, import and export should be concentrated in the Ba Ria - Vung Tau area. As for domestic logistics, it should be concentrated in the old Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City. "This will promote the strengths of the regions, and Cai Mep - Thi Vai will be the gateway to the sea to participate in global competition," Mr. Phong emphasized.
Many other contents were also raised in the discussion, or opinions such as: Ho Chi Minh City planning; developing the retail industry; connecting with logistics, seaports; promoting the advantages of the old Ba Ria - Vung Tau area, the old Binh Duong after the merger...
Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - said: "One of the tasks being implemented by Ho Chi Minh City is to merge the previous planning in the 3 provinces into one, which will solve the vision, limitations in connecting transportation, create momentum for development, connecting logistics, supply chains and production.... to strongly develop trade and services".
