Online Friday 2017, which is this Friday, is expected to achieve sales of VND1.5 trillion (US$220 million), event organiser Viet Nam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (Vecita) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

Lai Viet Anh, Vecita’s deputy director, told the press meeting held in Ha Noi on Monday that more than 1,300 websites and over 3,000 firms were registering for Online Friday.

“We have targeted one million successful orders with more than three million accesses and 20 million users searching for products and services information at the largest annual event for the e-commerce business and consumer communities in Viet Nam,” Anh said.

She added that the organising board has strictly reviewed prices of products offered at the event to limit the situation of increasing selling prices before promotions. This year, the organiser will publish products’ information, including producers’ listed price, current selling price in the market and promotional price during Online Friday. The promotional programmes will ensure genuine products, price reduction and free shipping for customers.

The BigOFF event will also be held in HCM City on December 1-3.

Currently, more than 50 brands have registered to participate in the programme labeling 3,000 guaranteed products.

Online Friday, approved by the Government, is an annual event being held since 2014.

Last year, the event reported total turnover of over VND1 trillion and participation of 3,000 firms. More than 370,000 promotional items were provided, attracting 24 million accesses at the event. — VNS