Nghe An proactively manages and controls commodity prices during Lunar New Year
(Baonghean) - Nghe An Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Tran Viet Dung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Finance on the issue of price management and operation before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2019.
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| Candy stalls are crowded with customers at the end of the year. Photo: Lam Tung |
Consumer price index increased by 4.67%
PV:Sir, the work of managing and stabilizing prices during Tet is very important. So how do you evaluate the work of managing and regulating prices last year?
Mr. Tran Viet Dung:According to the Nghe An Statistics Office, the consumer price index in 2018 increased by 4.67% compared to 2017 (1.13% higher than the average increase of the whole country).
The main reason for the increase in the consumer price index in 2018 was due to the increase in medical examination service prices. In addition, the impact of the increase in gasoline, gas, and construction material prices has affected many groups of goods.
In 2018, the Department of Finance advised the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial People's Council to issue legal documents on price management. Notably, decisions on land price adjustment, approval of starting prices for land auctions, management and use of public assets at agencies, organizations, units, etc.
In 2018, the Department of Finance reviewed the list of price registration and declaration, and advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a new list approving the list of organizations and individuals in Nghe An province to register prices, declare prices, and notify prices.
The Department of Finance has inspected and reviewed 158 price declaration records of enterprises, preventing enterprises from unreasonably increasing prices.
The Department of Finance also controls the prices of goods and services in the list and has the authority to set prices in the province. Regarding the implementation of the market roadmap for educational services and health services, it is ensured that it follows the instructions of superiors.Up to now, the price of medical examination and treatment services has been changed according to the provisions of Circular No. 37/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018 of the Ministry of Health. The Department of Health is coordinating with relevant departments and branches to advise the Provincial People's Council to approve at the first session (expected in July 2019) for implementation in the province. The implementation roadmap for tuition collection is to stabilize the collection level according to Resolution No. 53/2016/NQ-HDND dated December 16, 2016 of the Provincial People's Council.
During the year, the Police, Market Management and Customs forces inspected and audited according to the plan directed by superiors, with total fines paid to the budget of more than 4 billion VND.
Proactively stabilize prices of Tet goods
PV:What are the plans and measures for price management, operation and price stabilization during the Lunar New Year 2019, sir?
Mr. Tran Viet Dung:Implementing Directive No. 06/CT-BTC/2018 of the Ministry of Finance on strengthening management, operation and price stabilization during the Lunar New Year 2019, the Department of Finance issued Official Dispatch No. 27/STC-QLG&CS/2019 advising the Provincial People's Committee to assign tasks to departments, branches, People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to strengthen management, operation and price stabilization during the Tet holiday. Specifically:
The Department of Finance, the Department of Industry and Trade, and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns closely monitor the supply-demand and market price developments before, during, and after Tet, especially for goods and services that directly meet people's Tet consumption needs. In case of unusual fluctuations in market prices, a written document must be sent to the Department of Finance to promptly take measures to stabilize prices in accordance with the law.
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| Workers of Thanh Nghe Tinh Food Joint Stock Company prepare to bring goods to price stabilization points. Photo: Viet Phuong |
The State Reserve Department of Nghe Tinh region proposed to promptly issue national reserve goods according to regulations to people in areas affected by natural disasters and floods, and to provide famine relief to people during the crop gap and during Tet holiday to the right subjects to ensure social security.
The Tax Department shall preside over and coordinate with relevant sectors to strengthen inspection and examination measures to combat tax loss and fraud, reduce tax arrears and transfer pricing, and rectify tax refund work.The Department of Transport shall preside over and coordinate with relevant sectors to strengthen inspection and take strict measures to handle violations, taking advantage of increased passenger numbers during holidays, Tet, and peak seasons to increase transportation fares at high levels, and cases of failure to declare and post prices; publicly announce organizations and individuals with violations and the form of handling on mass media.
The Steering Committee for Anti-Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods strictly, thoroughly and effectively implements the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, especially for weapons, explosives, firecrackers, goods violating the environment, goods with high demand during the Lunar New Year such as cigarettes, alcohol, beer, poultry, food; strictly controls the quality of imported fresh food; especially in key areas, border areas.
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| Currently, many businesses have proactively sourced goods to serve the Lunar New Year. Photo: Viet Phuong |
The Department of Finance and other departments closely monitor the price declaration of enterprises, not allowing enterprises to unreasonably increase prices. At the same time, strengthen the inspection and supervision of compliance with legal regulations on price management, price declaration and price posting. Do not allow the phenomenon of taking advantage of the Tet holiday to increase prices in a chain, affecting social life.
The Provincial People's Committee also assigned the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to report on market price situations and timely market stabilization measures and programs.Purchasing power increased by 20% - 30%
PV:How do you forecast the supply-demand situation and market prices during the Lunar New Year 2019, sir?
Mr. Tran Viet Dung:According to consumer demand in the months before, during and after Lunar New Year, purchasing power increased by about 20% - 30% compared to other months, meaning total retail sales of goods reached about 6,600 billion VND/month. The expected consumer demand for some essential goods during Lunar New Year is as follows:
Food consumption demand is about 26,000 tons/month, food is about 6,000 tons of fresh meat/month, it is expected that during Tet holiday, the demand can reach 9,000 tons. Currently, the source of livestock and poultry meat produced in the province ensures full supply of demand.
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| Transporting Tet goods to the highlands of Que Phong. Photo: Quang An |
After Tet, prices of livestock and poultry meat will gradually decrease and return to stable levels as usual.
Aquatic and seafood products are about 2,000 tons/month, the demand is expected to increase to 3,000 tons during Tet. Nghe An supplies this product to the local market and other provinces and cities.It is forecasted that supply and demand will increase by 10-15% due to increased processing demand at the end of the year. On the other hand, the harvest output of this product depends heavily on weather conditions.
In addition to essential goods serving people's consumption needs, during the Lunar New Year, consumer demand also focuses on traditional goods such as cakes, jams, candies, soft drinks, etc.
In order to promptly stabilize the market before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2019, the Department of Industry and Trade issued Official Dispatch No. 1807/SCT-QLTM dated November 26, 2018 advising the Provincial People's Committee on supporting the reserve of essential goods for the Lunar New Year 2019. Nghe An will reserve 3 items with a total value of 68.3 billion VND. Of which, 2,650 tons of rice, 100 tons of sticky rice, 1,000,000 liters of cooking oil. The Provincial People's Committee supports businesses with bank loan interest rates to buy goods for reserve in 3 months.
The province has also resolutely implemented the work of preventing and combating smuggling and trade fraud.
On December 25, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 805/KH-UBND on the peak of the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2019. The focus is on fighting against organizations and individuals smuggling, producing and trading counterfeit goods, goods violating food hygiene and safety, vehicle owners showing signs of transporting smuggled goods and counterfeit goods; organizations and individuals taking advantage of mechanisms and policies on export, import, temporary import and re-export to smuggle, commit trade fraud and conduct illegal business.
PV:Thank you!
