Circular No. 08/2013/TT-BCT dated April 22, 2013 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade detailing goods trading and directly related activities of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam

ESTABLISHING RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR FOREIGN-INVESTED ENTERPRISES

On April 22, 2013, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issues the Circular No. 08/2013/TT-BCT detailing the goods trading and direct related-activities of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam. Establishing retail establishments is the important content.

The Circular states clearly that The establishment of retail establishments in addition to the first retail establishments are considered for each specific case based on the examination on economic demand of each locality where place retail establishment under the criteria: Quantity of retail establishments, stability of market, residential density and scale of district-level localities where are expected for the establishment of retail establishments. However, this provision is not applicable to the case of establishing a retail establishment with area of less than 500m2 in area planned for goods trading activities by central-affiliated cities and provinces and already finished construction of infrastructure.

Also according to this Circular, Foreign-invested enterprises granted the license for setting retail establishment in addition to the first establishment that has been set up in accordance with law but has not yet been granted license for setting up retail establishment, a dossier comprises: written request for license to set up retail establishment; report on situations of investment and operation of the retail establishment that requests for license for setting up retail establishment and then submit to the competent state agency. After having acceptance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the competent state agency shall grant the license for setting up retail establishments.