The commerce ministry would work more closely with private companies to supply fresh goods such as fish, meats and vegetables for sale to people in red and orange zones. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Commerce will strive to add more fresh produce for sale at its grocer booths in lockdown-restricted areas, which are predominantly stocked with dried foods, according to spokesman Pen Sovicheat.
The remark comes after the government on April 26 issued Resolution 54 to extend the lockdown of Phnom Penh and Takmao town for another week from April 29 to May 5 in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19. It classified regions as yellow, orange or red zones.
The resolution encourages the ministry and authorities involved in carrying out blockades to coordinate with the private sector the supply, transport and distribution of drinking water and essential food items – including milled rice, instant noodles, canned fish, fish sauce and soy sauce – to people in red or orange zones.
It also recommended listing products on online platforms and providing door-step delivery.
Speaking at a press conference on the extended lockdown at the Ministry of Justice on April 28, Sovicheat said the commerce ministry would work more closely with private companies to supply fresh goods such as fish, meats and vegetables for sale to people in red and orange zones.
He said the ministry would only choose “qualified companies” as partners to ensure that the guidelines of the Ministry of Health are fully and effectively implemented.
"We will have a wide range of additional products for residents that can be ordered via QR code on the Ministry of Commerce's online marketplace or by phone."
“I believe that residents should receive other goods besides the dried goods that the ministry already has for sale to our people in both the red and orange zones," Sovicheat said.
He said the ministry is currently working with Virak Buntham, Makro and Aeon and is keen to recruit other supermarkets.
These partnerships will help the ministry to maintain price stability and a diversity of goods on the market as well, he added.
He said the ministry is also working with the community to grow vegetables, spur slaughterhouse and aquaculture production and improve transport of produce to consumers in restricted areas.
The ministry currently has 11 stalls – split up into multiple booths – set up in red and orange zones, according to Sovicheat.
Virak Buntham Express on April 26 launched 64 mobile units selling groceries such as vegetables, fish and meat to 14 red-zone destinations, according to director-general Suo Vireak.
He told The Post: "We think people in blockaded areas are having a hard time getting fresh food, such as vegetables, fish, meat, which we sell at reasonable prices, so I decided to join the government, getting vehicles ready to transport supplies to the people in lockdown areas."
