Don't leave small traders at Vinh market alone in their time of need.
(Baonghean)Following the severe damage suffered by traders at Vinh Market due to the impact of the tropical depression, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong personally visited to encourage the people and urgently directed the work of overcoming the consequences, with the spirit of ensuring that the traders at Vinh Market are not left alone in their time of need.
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| The Provincial Party Secretary and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee listen to the opinions of traders at Vinh Market. Photo: Thanh Duy |
Unprecedented damage
Vinh Market, two days after a prolonged heavy rain. Gone is the bustling scene of buyers and sellers, the noisy commotion of the province's largest commercial center; instead, there's a somber atmosphere of sadness and sorrow.
When the provincial delegation arrived, some stalls in the main hall were preparing to reopen to customers, while most of the stalls in the western and eastern areas of the market were still in disarray. Although the water had receded considerably compared to a few days earlier, it was still ankle-deep.
The makeshift tents, tilting precariously due to the incessant rain, offered little protection for the few remaining goods salvaged after the disaster.
During a specific inspection at the market entrances, the provincial delegation directly met with and listened to the concerns and aspirations of the small traders. With bloodshot eyes and a hoarse voice, Mrs. Ngo Thi Thuan (86 years old), who has been selling votive offerings for a decade, could not hold back her emotions when talking with the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman.
She said that not only her stall but hundreds of other stalls, selling various goods such as paper offerings, dried food, and other miscellaneous items, all suffered significant losses.
Upon hearing the news that the market was flooded, most small business owners mobilized their relatives and family members to move their goods, but it was too late. Many small business owners helplessly watched as billions of dong were swept away by the floodwaters overnight.
Clasping hands with provincial leaders, Ms. Thuan expressed her wish for tax exemptions and reductions for affected small business owners, to help alleviate their hardships and encourage them to overcome difficulties.
Sharing the same sentiment and hope is Hoàng Thị Hương, a small business owner selling vegetables at the western end of the market. Her trading area was flooded with water 1.3-1.5 meters deep, resulting in 100% damage.
Representing small traders in the vegetable sector, Ms. Huong and many other households proposed the swift implementation of market upgrades, raising the ground level in low-lying areas so that traders can conduct their business with peace of mind.
Tax and fee exemptions/reductions will be granted.
Immediately after surveying the site and listening to the concerns of the people, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong held an urgent meeting at the Vinh Market Management Board headquarters, with the participation of provincial departments and agencies, leaders of Vinh City, and representatives of the traders.
The meeting began directly and centrally with the directive from the Provincial Party Secretary: The urgent task is to focus on cleaning up to ensure a clean environment and create conditions for people to quickly resume their businesses.
Regarding the upgrading of Vinh Market, which is currently facing fire safety assessment issues, the Provincial Party Secretary requested the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to direct the completion of the procedures in October; at the same time, he assigned the City Party Secretary and the Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee to promptly implement the market upgrade.
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| Rice, paddy, and food items such as eggs and seafood sold by vendors at Vinh Market were all severely damaged when the floodwaters receded. (Archival photo) |
Describing this as a historic flood at Vinh Market, the Provincial Party Secretary demanded a thorough investigation into the cause in order to implement long-term preventative measures, because "without knowing the cause, we cannot prevent it from happening again."
Expressing deep sympathy and solidarity with the immense losses suffered by the small traders at Vinh Market, the Provincial Party Secretary suggested studying policies to provide support regarding taxes and fees; reviewing the loan needs of the traders, and if there are difficulties in obtaining loans, the province will contact the banks.
The Provincial Party Secretary also requested the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the leaders of Vinh City to study the province's and city's resources to support small traders.
"It must be democratic, open, clear, and transparent" is the directive of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Xuan Duong, regarding support for small traders.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized: Regarding specific support measures, the Provincial Tax Department must direct the Vinh City Tax Sub-Department to assign tax officials to directly inform and guide small traders on how to apply for tax exemptions and reductions in accordance with regulations, and provide a response within October.
At the same time, effective communication is needed to reassure small traders and help them stabilize their businesses as soon as possible. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested that representatives of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, based on support from other localities, individuals, and businesses, provide some assistance to the small traders at Vinh Market.
At the same time, immediately after the damage is largely repaired and business operations return to normal, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh City must organize a meeting with the Management Board of Vinh Market and Hong Son Ward, where the market is located, to find the cause, draw serious lessons, and handle the responsibility of relevant organizations and individuals if appropriate action is required.
On the other hand, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh City needs to invite relevant departments and agencies to discuss the approval and implementation of the market upgrade as soon as possible.
Following the directives of the provincial leaders, at the meeting, representatives from the Provincial Tax Department affirmed that, based on an assessment of the extent of the damage, tax exemptions and reductions would be granted to the affected traders at Vinh Market. "We will direct the Vinh City Tax Sub-Department to directly implement this and consider it a key task for October," the leader of the Nghe An Provincial Tax Department affirmed.
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| Dried bamboo shoots submerged in water. (Photo: Archival image) |
At the meeting, Mr. To Thanh Nhan, Head of the Vinh Market Management Board, also proposed waiving or reducing service fees, specifically the rent for stalls, for affected traders; he also stated that he would coordinate with the tax authorities to quickly process the necessary procedures for the affected traders.
Supporting affected small traders was also a priority, as affirmed by the Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee, Nguyen Hoai An, at the meeting. He stated that a comprehensive study of an effective drainage plan for Vinh Market would be implemented. Regarding the market upgrade, the Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee promised to complete the necessary procedures this October to expedite implementation.
Concluding the heated meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong emphasized the spirit of solidarity and support to encourage the affected traders at Vinh Market: "Time is precious now. Local leaders, relevant departments, and the Vinh Market Management Board must consider this a top priority to ensure that the traders can quickly stabilize their lives," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee noted.
According to initial statistics, in the western part of Vinh Market, there are 415 households/793 kiosks affected. Specifically, in the rice, sticky rice, bean, and peanut sector, 26 households/47 kiosks were flooded to a depth of 1.3-1.5m, resulting in 100% damage to goods; in the vegetable sector, 67 households/151 kiosks suffered 100% damage; in the paper goods sector, 106 households/216 kiosks were flooded to a depth of 1-1.3m, with 70% damage to goods; and in the confectionery sector, 28 households/59 kiosks were flooded to a depth of 0.7-1m, with approximately 50% damage to goods. In the grocery sector, 26 households/37 kiosks suffered 100% damage; in the sweet and savory food sector, 57 households/127 kiosks suffered 50% damage to their goods; and in other sectors, 105 households/156 kiosks suffered 30% damage to their goods. On the eastern side of the market, flooding from 0.3 to 0.6 meters affected a total of 529 households/752 stalls. Specifically, the textile sector suffered approximately 30% damage to 124 households/174 stalls; the traditional medicine sector suffered approximately 30% damage to 41 households/51 stalls; the mat and mattress sector suffered approximately 20% damage to 39 households/55 stalls; and other sectors suffered 20% damage to 305 households/417 stalls. As of the morning of October 12th, estimated losses for businesses at Vinh Market ranged from 6 to 8 billion VND. |
Thanh Duy
