The information was revealed at a meeting between Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Do Thang Hai and representatives of Central Group held in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Central Group also announced that the contracts for eight of the 169 suppliers have expried and they are negotiating with Central Group to sign new ones.

Previously, due to new strategies for the garment industry in the distribution system in Viet Nam, Central Group announced a temporary suspension on the import of garments of Vietnamese suppliers.

At the meeting on July 4 with the leadership of MoIT, general director of Central Group Viet Nam Philippe Broianigo, said the change in strategy is to better serve the domestic market and exports.

Also on July 4, Central Group and the Vietnam Apparel and Textile Association signed an agreement, under which the association will help the retailer deal with similar cases.

Hai requested the Central Group coordinate with other associations and industries to cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises effectively, avoiding unexpected incidents.

MoIT will create the best conditions and support foreign businesses as well as Central Group to operate effectively in Viet Nam, Hai added.

Beside Big C, Central Group is also the owner of Nguyen Kim electronics shopping centre and Lan Chi Mart, providing direct jobs for 17,000 people and indirect jobs for tens of thousands of others.

Big C supermarket alone recruits about 9,000 Vietnamese workers.

Central Group Viet Nam contributed about VND1 trillion (US$43 million), including VND500 billion from Big C, to the State budget in 2018. — VNS