Vietnamese made goods capture local market

The “Be Vietnamese buy Vietnamese-made goods” campaign is gaining ground as Vietnamese made goods are regaining local consumer confidence.

This fact was confirmed by participants at a seminar organized by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on February 18 to review the one year of implementation of the Politburo’s policy on prioritizing Vietnamese-made goods.

A survey of the campaign showed that 59 percent of consumers preferred Vietnamese products, 38 percent recommended the products to relatives and friends and 36 percent who earlier bought foreign-made products had now switched to locally made goods.

Vietnamese clothes, textile products, footwear, foods, vegetables and household goods are now much more preferred by local consumers.

The survey showed that the campaign had a positive influence on all levels of society by increased consumer and organization awareness of the rights and responsibilities towards domestically made products.

The campaign helped change attitudes of people who now give priority to Vietnamese made brands.

A report released by the campaign’s steering committee showed that domestic products now account for 95 percent of the product sales in supermarkets throughout Ho Chi Minh City.

The consumption of Vietnamese made products in Saigon Co-op Mart supermarkets, the largest market chain in the country, during the first half of 2010 saw an increase by 55 percent as against the same period in 2009.

It was remarkable to see Vietnamese made goods occupy most of the shelf space in supermarkets during the recent Tet festival.

More than 80-90 percent of goods sold in Co.op Mart, Big C, Metro and Fivimart supermarkets during Tet were Vietnamese made goods, while last year that figure was only around 50 percent.

Efforts to step up the promotion of Vietnamese products, included taking the goods to rural areas, selling goods at industrial parks and launching of sales every month, have now born fruit and consumer shopping habits are visibly changing.

The campaign also pushed for Vietnamese enterprises to take initiative in developing their production and business as well as upgrading their technology and management to produce products of good quality, beautiful designs, and low cost prices.

Participants at the seminar agreed that for the campaign to achieve sustainable efficiency not only do consumers need to change their awareness but enterprises also must study and meet the consumers’ demand and taste.

Addressing the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said that there remained many enterprises that have yet to learn about the campaign.

Mr. Hai agreed with the measures proposed by the steering committee to bring the campaign to every single locality and residential area in the times to come.

He believed that the campaign would need to be given more attention from leaders at all levels.

The proposed measures include intensifying the advertisement of the campaign in densely-populated areas, stepping up the fight against trafficking and making recommendations to create more favorable conditions for the production, circulation and consumption of domestic products.

He said that ministries and relevant agencies need to review and supplement law documents if necessary to facilitate the development of the campaign and to make the campaign effective.

The steering board has to now focus on enterprises and consumers to join the campaign and encourage producers to upgrade production technology and management, Mr. Hai added.

He said that the campaign has great significance in the long run as it will aid sustainable growth and development in the country.

Tags: Vietnamese goods