Wasteful investment in rural markets.

Muong Phang market is deserted and quiet.

The market has… 5 business households.

Muong Phang Market, located in Muong Phang commune (Dien Bien Phu city), covers an area of ​​1,470 square meters. It was constructed and handed over for management and use on October 13, 2023, with a total investment of 2.99 billion VND. The goal was to make Muong Phang Market a center for trade in the region, promoting the exchange and sale of unique agricultural products and local specialties, creating conditions for socio -economic development, and improving the lives of the people in Muong Phang commune. However, after more than a year of operation, Muong Phang Market is considered ineffective, with only five businesses operating there.

To better understand the current state of operation and management of Muong Phang Market, we worked with the leaders of Muong Phang commune. Mr. Lo Van Hop, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Phang commune, said: Muong Phang Market mainly operates in the morning, with the number of buyers and sellers being negligible, and many stalls in the market are empty. While the solidly built market is deserted, people around the market are encroaching on traffic lanes or using the sidewalks in front of their houses for business. We acknowledge that this situation is due to the commune government's lack of decisive management. Furthermore, during the time the market was put into operation, the number of businesses within the market was too small, so the People's Committee of the commune had not yet established a market management board or issued regulations and operating rules. The coordination between the commune People's Committee and specialized departments under the city People's Committee has been lacking. As a result, despite the market having been operating for over a year, the commune authorities have yet to receive a decision on market fees, market classification according to Government Decree No. 60/2024/ND-CP on market development and management, and the assignment of market management responsibilities from the city People's Committee. This is partly why the Muong Phang market has not been operating effectively.

Not only in the outlying communes, but also in the heart of Dien Bien Phu City, the C13 market in Thanh Truong ward, built and put into operation since December 2023, has only 13 stalls with signed lease contracts to date. The C13 market has a scale of 120 stalls (72 main market kiosks, 48 ​​corrugated iron-roofed kiosks) and an outdoor selling area of ^​​420m² . Of the 13 stalls with signed contracts, only 3 are currently operating, while the remaining 10 stalls remain vacant after being leased.

Reporters work with the leaders of Muong Phang commune (Dien Bien Phu city).

As one of the three households renting and using a kiosk at C13 market since September 2024, Ms. Sung Thi My from Na Sang commune (Muong Cha district) sells traditional Mong ethnic clothing. Nearly two months into her business, not a single customer has come to inquire about buying her products! Ms. My shared: "I think the market is big and beautiful, but the number of customers coming to buy goods is very small. Perhaps people prefer going to shopping malls in the city."

However, about 1km from the C13 market, people are encroaching on the traffic corridor, taking advantage of a now-defunct gas station as a trading and business point. Meat, vegetables, cooked food, even clothes... are displayed everywhere, creating a bustling atmosphere. One vegetable vendor shared: "We can still sell our goods here, but nobody buys them inside the market." In this area, during rush hour, people passing by stop to buy goods. Thus, the number of sellers and buyers has increased, creating an impromptu market right on the national highway corridor. According to local residents: "The authorities have intervened many times to clear the encroaching stalls on the road and sidewalks, but it only lasts a few days. When there are no authorities present, the encroachment resumes."

Markets need to be exploited and managed effectively.

Over the past period, Thanh Truong ward (Dien Bien Phu city) has sought many solutions for business households, especially directing functional forces to dismantle illegal stalls around the market area, and at the same time, propagating and mobilizing people to do business in the market, but the situation has not improved.

Market C13 in Thanh Truong ward, Dien Bien Phu city, has been invested in and is well-equipped, but it has failed to attract businesses.

Regarding the plan for utilizing the market, Mr. Cao Dai Duong, Chairman of the Thanh Truong Ward People's Committee, stated: In the coming time, the ward will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to strengthen propaganda and encourage residents and business owners in the area to register their businesses at the market. At the same time, the ward requests neighboring wards and communes to cooperate in promoting the market to households interested in renting stalls. To attract businesses to the market, we will have a specific policy to support new businesses, waiving fees for the first two months to assess the revenue level and encourage businesses to participate in market activities.

According to statistics from the Department of Industry and Trade, currently, the province has 41 markets, with markets located in 21 rural communes. Investment in new construction, upgrading, renovation, management, and operation of markets has always been a priority for all levels and sectors. To date, commercial infrastructure in general, and markets in particular, have developed significantly, facilitating the expansion of trade, better serving the needs of the people, and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality. However, market management in the province still faces many limitations and has not effectively utilized investment resources. Based on the state management of markets, the Department of Industry and Trade issued document No. 1389/SCT-QLTM dated August 28, 2023, on strengthening market management for the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities.

Based on the results of the review and evaluation of the operational efficiency of rural markets, the Department will submit a proposal to the Provincial People's Committee to change the land use purpose of markets that are operating inefficiently or not operating at all. This is a reasonable solution proposed by the Department of Industry and Trade to avoid wasting investment resources and land for market construction. For markets to be invested in in the future, it is necessary to follow the approved plan, focusing on conducting on-site investigations and surveys, accurately assessing the needs and necessity of market construction, and respecting the historical context of the market's formation. The goal is to create favorable conditions for the exchange and trading activities of the people to determine the appropriate scale and location.

In implementing the national target program for building new rural areas, the initial mandatory infrastructure criteria included the presence of a market. However, since building a market is not truly necessary, we request that the competent authorities consider this carefully when implementing this criterion, avoiding a situation where a newly built market incurs significant investment debt without being effective, thus wasting investment resources.

Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-uc/kinh-te/219902/lang-phi-dau-tu-cho-nong-thon