Nghe An aims to become the largest wood processing and manufacturing center in North Central Vietnam.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - delivered a speech at the workshop. Photo: Van Truong

On the morning of March 25th in Vinh City, the People's Committee of Nghe An province organized the "Workshop on orientation and solutions for the rapid and sustainable development of the wood processing and non-timber forest product industry in Nghe An province until 2025, with a vision to 2035". Comrades Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired the workshop. Also in attendance were scientists, experts, and businesses in the wood processing and forest product sector of Vietnam.

Development has not lived up to its potential.

According to a report by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nghe An has the largest forest area in the country with over 1,160,000 hectares of forest. The reforestation movement is quite strong, with 15,000-19,000 hectares newly planted annually, and the annual output of harvested planted forests reaching 1,659,000 cubic meters.³.

OverviewWorkshop. Photo: Van Truong

Wood chip processing reaches 700,000 - 1,000,000 tons/year, with annual export revenue of approximately 110 - 130 million USD. Nghe An's forestry sector possesses potential and advantages such as: abundant human resources, skills in intensive forest planting and a good awareness of forest management and protection among the people. A synchronized and convenient transportation infrastructure connects various regions.

However, Nghe An province still faces difficulties and limitations in planting raw material forests and exploiting and processing forest products: Small timber forests account for the majority, there is no area certified by FSC, and businesses and investors whose raw material area plans have been approved are slow or fail to implement them.

Businesses mainly focus on exporting raw materials (wood chips), lacking deep processing and failing to create integrated production and processing chains. The primary market is China. The development of non-timber forest products in general, and medicinal plants in particular, is essentially still at the planning stage…

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - introduces plywood products to delegates from Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Van Truong.

To ensure the wood processing and non-timber forest product industries develop to their full potential, Nghe An province has proposed solutions from 2020 to 2025: Enhancing the value of forest production and business, developing sustainable forestry in terms of socio-economic and environmental aspects. Developing forestry and forest-based economic activities along the entire value chain, from forest management and protection, reforestation, harvesting, processing, and product consumption, to increase the value of forest products.

Developing 283,562 hectares of timber plantations (harvesting and replanting 145,526 hectares; new planting 129,559 hectares; and natural forest rehabilitation 8,477 hectares). Protecting and effectively managing 106,698 hectares of natural bamboo, rattan, and reed forests. Reviewing, developing, and supplementing the forest product processing plan for Nghe An province. Evaluating the raw material area plan for investors. Identifying and selecting processing plants and key sectors for investment incentives and support.

Improving forest quality

The delegates' discussions at the workshop focused on the following issues: To achieve rapid and sustainable development of the wood processing and non-timber forest product industries, Nghe An needs to develop forestry production in a sustainable direction, in line with the province's socio-economic development strategy. It is necessary to develop commercial forests in a value chain, oriented towards modern technology.

Planning for forestry production development, specifically establishing the type and capacity of each product to ensure balance in production (MDF boards, particleboard, laminated wood, wooden furniture, etc.). Encouraging the harvesting of acacia trees over 15 years old to create high-quality products for export and to protect the environment. Technology and market for wood and non-timber forest products in Vietnam, some experiences and solutions for developing wood and forest product processing industrial clusters in Nghe An province.

Improve the investment environment to attract businesses to invest in the wood processing sector. For non-timber forest products such as medicinal herbs, people should be allowed to grow medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. Some key policy directions for forestry production and forest product processing in Nghe An…

Speaking at the workshop, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy acknowledged the contributions of the delegates; respectfully accepted the advice and consultations of experts, scientists, and businesspeople; and learned from the experiences and approaches of other provinces and local wood and forestry product associations.

"Based on the results of the workshop, we have identified several key directions, as follows: Continue to improve administrative procedure reform, and process investment registration and business registration procedures for investors within the prescribed timeframe."

"We must effectively implement business support programs such as trade promotion, investment promotion, and industrial promotion to support wood processing businesses investing in the area. We must organize market research programs, find raw material sources according to business needs, and improve production technology," Comrade Thai Thanh Quy emphasized.

Nghe An will organize dialogue programs and meetings with businesses, industry associations, and provincial business associations to address difficulties and obstacles in production and business, promote trade, and introduce investment opportunities.

Developing plantations for large timber production, obtaining FSC sustainable forest management certification, applying intensive farming methods, and using high-quality varieties will improve the productivity, yield, and quality of plantations, meeting the raw material needs of the country and the world.

The advisory committee recommends canceling approved raw material area plans if investors fail to implement them and establishing specific linkage policies with forest-planting households.

In Nghe An, most of the forests being exploited are young trees. (Photo: Van Truong)

In addition, investment in wood processing industrial clusters will concentrate businesses processing wood for export, both interior and exterior furniture, and supporting industries serving the wood processing industry (such as: manufacturing bolts, screws, door handles, hinges, etc.).

Research and establish the Nghe An Wood and Forestry Products Processing Association as a bridge to connect wood processing businesses in the province and nationwide. Strive to make Nghe An the largest center for processing wood and non-timber forest products in the North Central region.

Que Phong has planted over 358 hectares of forest for large timber production.

(Baonghean.vn) - Que Phong district has recently implemented the planting of over 358 hectares of large timber forests across 8 communes.

Leveraging the advantages of large-scale timber plantation.

(Baonghean) - Effectively leveraging the advantages of forests and forest land to develop forestry as a sustainable occupation for people in many localities in Nghe An. Besides promoting linkages between raw material areas and processing enterprises, expanding the area of ​​forests for large-scale timber production brings high economic value.