Ho Chi Minh City will take measures to support the development of its industry sector amid the ongoing difficulties, according to the city’s Department of Industry and Trade.

It will help industrial production businesses find supply sources of materials via cooperation between the city and other localities and link businesses with banks, Department Director Ta Hoang Vu told a recent press briefing on the city’s socio-economic development in the first quarter of the year.

In order to support production and promote consumption, the department will launch trade promotion programs to turn the southern city into an attractive shopping destination for tourists and citizens.

Measures will also be taken to increase product quality and value to improve competitiveness.

Ho Chi Minh City’s industry sector experienced slowing growth in the first quarter, with its Industrial Production Index (IIP) falling 0.9 per cent year-on-year.