Why are some markets in Nghe An abandoned after being built?

Many newly built markets have been abandoned.

Located in the center of Hung Dong commune, Vinh city, in 2018, Hung Dong market was invested in construction with a cost of 5.7 billion VND. After completion and put into use, the market is expected to serve the people's trading needs, promote local economic development, and contribute to correcting the situation of temporary markets that cause loss of urban beauty. However, after the opening ceremony, this market was closed because no one came to buy and sell.

Hung Dong Market is built on an area of ​​3,600 m²including 1 main hall and 2 rows of sales kiosks and auxiliary works such as toilets, clean water tanks, fire prevention and fighting systems, and wastewater drainage ditches.

At this time, according to our observations, we saw that Hung Dong market was deserted, with only a few traders selling meat in front of the market gate. A trader said: "The reason Hung Dong market is deserted is partly because this area is close to Gia market, Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen), Quan Bau market, so people do not come here to buy goods."

Currently, some items of Hung Dong market have degraded, such as the fire protection system is rusted, some glass doors are broken, the market floor inside is overgrown with grass, and some kiosks are used by people to dry clothes.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khiem - Chairman of Hung Dong Commune People's Committee said that for a long time, the commune has made great efforts to organize fairs, in which each organization and group has 1 booth, to maintain the market's operations, but after a short time the market is deserted again.

Also in the same situation, Tan Long market (Tan Long commune, Tan Ky district) has been deserted for many years. Currently, the market is abandoned, the market hall has been turned into a place to graze buffalo because of the overgrown grass around. The market hall area is used by people to play volleyball and badminton. Many items of the market are seriously degraded, some areas of the corrugated iron roof have broken and punctured, the iron and steel fence behind the market has been completely removed, leaving only the concrete frame.

It is known that Tan Long market was built in 2009, worth 1.1 billion VND, mobilized from the State budget and people's contributions.

Similarly, the fresh food market area of ​​the LIFSAP project of Bai Son market, Do Luong district, after many years of construction, is also abandoned.

Going to the back, the market hall belongs to the LIFSAP Project, which was invested in and built quite synchronously. However, all of them were abandoned, the system of fresh meat stalls that had not been used for a long time had deteriorated, such as the cabinet doors were damaged, the cement floor was peeling, and the table tops were covered in dust. Some other rows of kiosks nearby were also not used for their intended purpose, and were used by people nearby to store firewood and dry clothes and blankets.

Inside the market hall, no one goes in. In the area near the market gate, vendors display all kinds of goods for sale.

Mr. Dao Danh Ha - Chairman of the People's Committee of Bai Son commune said: Bai Son market was completed and put into use in 2019, with an investment capital of nearly 2 billion VND, with a total area of ​​nearly 2,000m2.²The project is invested by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The market is designed with over 20 fresh food stalls, in addition to synchronous items such as toilets, drainage ditches, electricity, etc.

Currently, the commune is continuing to implement solutions to propagate and mobilize small traders to sell fresh food in the market area with synchronous infrastructure investment. However, this seems to be very difficult because buyers often have the habit of buying near the market gate.

In addition, in the province there are still many other markets that were built and then abandoned such as Long Son market (in Long Son commune, Anh Son district), Co Ba market (Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district), Dong Vang market (Hung Phuc commune, Hung Nguyen district), Tien Phong market (Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district)...

Solutions are needed for the market to be effective.

According to the report of the Department of Industry and Trade, currently, in the whole province, there are 371 active traditional markets, including 7 class I markets, 20 class II markets, 240 class III markets, and 104 unclassified markets. The total number of business households in the markets in the province is about 73,000 households, attracting about 81,000 workers. The main business lines in the markets are currently fresh food, groceries, dried and semi-processed agricultural products, products of small-scale producers...

Regarding infrastructure, there are 154 permanent markets, many of which attract investment on a large scale such as: Do Luong traditional market combined with commercial service area, Kim Son - Que Phong market, Hoang Mai market, Tan Ky market... There are 133 semi-permanent markets, 84 markets with temporary facilities.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep - Head of Trade Management Department of the Department of Industry and Trade said: Currently, due to the change in people's shopping and consumption habits from direct buying and selling to e-commerce, people are increasingly trading at the market, leading to difficulties in the operation of traditional markets.

Some markets are not operating effectively or are not very effective. Out of 371 markets in the province, there are currently about 205 markets operating effectively, 128 markets operating with low efficiency, and 38 markets operating ineffectively. On the other hand, the infrastructure of many markets has not been invested in or renovated for a long time, so it has degraded, especially the water supply and drainage system and environmental sanitation, affecting traders and people who come to shop at the market.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, in order for traditional markets to operate effectively, the Department of Industry and Trade has proposed solutions: For markets that are operating inefficiently as they are now, it is necessary to implement a plan to change their purpose of use. Specifically, markets in cities, towns, and district centers need to change their models, giving priority to attracting businesses to invest in traditional markets and operate commercial service complexes.

Traditional markets in rural areas need to be reviewed to propose relevant sectors to have support policies and mechanisms, improve infrastructure to meet regulations on fire prevention, food safety, and environmental sanitation. In particular, it is necessary to support small traders in training skills in e-commerce, online sales, combined with direct sales. Improve knowledge for the team of market system management staff, ensuring adequate capacity and responsibility for professional management.

In particular, with new markets that are about to be invested in and built, localities need to survey and plan areas with high population density and practical buying and selling needs, such as those associated with urban areas, industrial parks, etc. to avoid the situation where the market is put into use without buyers or sellers.

From the above reality, many opinions say that the completed market is not put into use, the authorities need to clarify the cause and consider the responsibility of individuals and implementing units. Before starting the project, did the investor and local functional agencies assess the potential, potential and effectiveness of the market project; Or did they just conduct a preliminary survey and then build it when it could not be implemented, leaving it abandoned? Any project that is delayed for many years will cause economic damage, affecting the business life of people and the development of regions. If there is loss or waste, it is necessary to clearly identify the responsibility of individuals, collectives... to have appropriate handling measures./.