Vietnam urges streamlining of product distribution

The Vietnamese government in April urged its various ministries to consolidate efforts to streamline product distribution in the country. The government asked the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Construction and Health to set up a distribution system for products necessary for production and consumption, including petroleum products, construction steel, fertilizer, food, cement and medicines. The central government gave the ministries until the end of this year to finalize their arrangements, which it hopes would stabilize and develop the domestic market during the international economic slowdown. The government said it would allot 51 billion dong (US$2.98 million) for the project. (April 29, 2009)