In furtherance of the Political Bureau's Directive No. 12/NQ-TW of January 3, 1996 on continued renewal of commercial organization and activities and development of the socialist-oriented market, the Prime Minister issued this Directive to request the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies and the presidents of the provincial/municipal People's Committees to focus on the following tasks:

- Forming and developing commercial infrastructures in order to create favorable conditions for activities of goods exchange and trading, including: markets, trade centers (for wholesale and retail), supermarkets and network of shops which suit and satisfy the production development and consumption demands in each locality.

- Linking goods circulation with production, especially agricultural production. Developing modes of goods purchase and sale agency and provision of services and supplies for production and consumption under stable and long-term contracts.

- Gradually forming commercial conglomerates and big corporations along the direction of civilization and modernity.

- Boosting the development and raising the operation efficiency of trade associations in the domestic market.

- Vigorously developing trade and service cooperatives, especially in the rural areas.

- Enhancing the State management, gradually perfecting the goods circulation- managing institutions, raising the quality and efficiency of the work of forecasting and administering the market and prices of essential goods, ensuring the stable and sustainable development of domestic market.- (Summary)