Expanding commercial services to highland villages

The joy of having a new market

On the morning of January 6, 2023, people in villages in border communesMy Ly, Bac Ly of Ky Son district woke up earlier than usual. It was not yet dawn, the fog was still covering the mountains and forests, but Mrs. Cut Mother Tom in Huoi Cang village, Bac Ly commune, along with her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, quickly went down the mountain to Xop Tu village, My Ly commune to go to the market. Mrs. Tom said that she had lived for more than half her life, and there had never been a market here. People in Bac Ly who wanted to go shopping had to travel dozens of kilometers.

“If you buy food or small household items, you have to go to the central market.Hoi Tuabout 20km from My Ly commune. If you want to buy more important things like electronics, motorbikes, etc., you have to go to Muong Xen town market, about 60km from the commune" - Mrs. Tom said.

My Ly people excitedly go to the market. Photo: PV

Like Mrs. Tom, people in 25 villages of My Ly and Bac Ly communes now do not need to travel long distances to exchange and buy goods, especially products made by themselves. Xop Tu market was opened in the days before Tet, so the number of people and goods gathered was larger than expected by the market management board and local authorities. In addition to stalls selling local agricultural products and handicrafts such as dresses, brocade scarves, rattan and bamboo products, food stalls selling pork, buffalo, beef and food are also very crowded.

Mr. Kha Van Tam, who lives in Xop Tu village, said that the bustling and crowded scene of the market has brought a new joy to the village in the days before Tet. He and everyone else happily wait for the market to meet friends and see local products.

“Just going to see it is fun. Those who have some money can buy some things for Tet. Those who need money can bring their products to sell, something that has not happened in My Ly villages for decades,” said Mr. Kha Van Tam.

Products made by local people are sold at My Ly market. Photo: PV

Mr. Lo Van Bay - Chairman of My Ly Commune People's Committee said that Xop Tu market officially operates on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month. The opening of the market will help people gradually get acquainted with trade and commerce activities. At the same time, it will help people earn more income when they have a place to buy and sell their own products. When the market is in operation, people will be more excited and active in working and producing.

Currently in Ky Son, Nam Can International Border Gate Market is one of the places that not only connects and promotes trade and commercial exchange between Ky Son and other districts in the province, but is also a hub for economic and cultural exchanges with neighboring districts of Laos. In early December 2022, after postponing 2 sessions to serve the political activities of Laos, on December 18, 2022, Nam Can International Border Gate Market reopened, in time to serve the shopping needs of people of the two countries on the occasion of the New Year 2023.

Attention to highland trade services

At the end of December 2022, in the communeYen Hoa(Tuong Duong), the people of the villages here also attended the market for the first time right in their living area. With about 20 stalls, this first market mainly bought, sold and exchanged products produced, raised, gathered and hunted by local people and neighboring areas such as: mice, chickens, jicama, sticky rice, moss, brocade... Handicrafts of rattan and bamboo products such as: rattan trays, rattan chairs, cans, baskets... In addition, there are food stalls selling traditional dishes and foods of the Thai and Khmu ethnic groups living in the area.

Traditional market at the intersection of Huoi Tu - Bac Ly - My Ly (Ky Son). Photo courtesy

The leader of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said that in 2022, the total retail turnover of goods in the district is estimated to reach 1,032 billion VND, reaching 102.7% of the resolution assigned by the District People's Council, an increase of 6.9% over the same period. The market of goods is rich and diverse in types, meeting the needs of consumers. The model of eco-tourism and community services has been initially formed and developed, bringing economic efficiency to the people such as Tam Quang eco-tourism cluster (Nam Xan eco-tourism area) - Tam Dinh (sang le forest, Khe Co, Quang Phuc) - Van Temple, Khe Ngau, Xa Luong commune - Nha Vang waterfall, Nhon Mai commune - sang le forest, water wheel, Cooc village, Yen Hoa commune.

Currently, the district has been and is continuing to invest in building eco-tourism spots in the Sang Le forest... Opening more markets will also contribute to promoting the exchange of goods, contributing to increasing revenue from the service industry and developing community tourism in Tuong Duong.

People buy and sell goods at Muong Qua market, Mon Son commune (Con Cuong). Photo: HT

Not only in Tuong Duong and Ky Son, but also in mountainous districts such as Con Cuong and Que Phong, more and more markets are being organized in remote areas to help people conveniently travel and exchange goods.

In Con Cuong, in addition to the Muong Qua market in Mon Son commune which has been operating for a long time and has become a traditional cultural lifestyle of the people, since the end of 2020 the district has also opened the Muong Chon market in Binh Chuan commune. Muong Chon market is located at the junction between the inner communes of Con Cuong district and neighboring communes of Quy Hop district and some communes of Tuong Duong district, so people of the 3 districts can go to Muong Chon market to trade and shop periodically on Saturday and Sunday of the 3rd week of every month.

Opening more markets in remote areas is also one of the activities to implement Plan 192/KH-UBND dated March 22, 2022 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province. This is a plan to implement Decision No. 1163 of the Prime Minister on the Strategy "Domestic trade development for the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2045". Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee sets out the task of perfecting institutions and policies, improving the investment and business environment and managing trade activities according to international commitments. Increasing domestic final consumer demand, developing distribution enterprises, linking circulation with production, promoting linkages of product and goods supply chains; developing the domestic market in association with the Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods" for the period 2021-2025.

In addition to developing modern, large-scale commercial centers, the Provincial People's Committee also continues to implement preferential investment policies to attract investment resources to develop commercial infrastructure such as: Markets, commercial centers, supermarkets, warehouses, preservation, etc. in a modern direction in the centers of districts, cities, and towns. At the same time, combine resources to build new, renovate and upgrade traditional cultural markets, markets in rural and border areas to meet the needs of buying, selling, and exchanging goods to serve the people.

Specifically, in the period of 2021 - 2030; accelerate the process of transforming the management, business and market exploitation model and socialize investment in market construction and exploitation; renovate and upgrade existing urban markets and improve service quality towards ensuring food safety and trade civilization; deploy and replicate the pilot food safety market model; invest in developing a number of markets associated with night-time economic development, tourism development in suitable areas and locations to create more channels to promote and introduce agricultural products, especially regional specialties and OCOP products of the province, especially in remote areas with strengths in typical local products.