Nghe An expands opportunities for connectivity and product trade.

OCOP products seek to access the market.

Recognizing the potential of Vietnamese agricultural land and products, especially grains, in August 2020, Mr. Hoang Xuan Tuan and Ms. Phan Thi Lien joined forces to establish the Hadalifa nutritional grain brand in Nghi Hoa ward, Cua Lo town (now Hadalifa Nutrition Co., Ltd.).

Currently, the company collaborates with cooperatives to develop a 240-hectare clean raw material area, ensuring a proactive supply of raw materials, grown and cared for according to clean agricultural product standards in districts throughout the province. In 2023, the company's Hadalifa cereal powder product was recognized as achieving 3-star OCOP standards. In 2024, Hadalifa cereal was recognized by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province as a typical rural industrial product at the provincial level.

In the first nine months of 2024, the company's revenue reached over 10 billion VND, providing employment for 9 workers with an average income of 12 million VND per person per month.

To ensure OCOP products reach consumers and expand markets, businesses regularly participate in trade fairs nationwide and actively seek out foreign markets such as Thailand and Russia. Ms. Phan Thi Lien, the company's director, shared: "Participating in trade fairs and supply-demand connection conferences is an opportunity for us to promote and introduce our products and reach consumers. Therefore, whenever there's an opportunity, we explore it and participate. Thanks to this, our products reach a wider range of customers, expand our market share, and contribute to bringing clean, high-quality products to consumers."

It is noteworthy that many businesses are constantly improving product quality, investing in packaging and labeling, and seeking new markets. Recognizing this trend, agencies and organizations are continuously organizing trade promotion activities, connecting supply and demand, and holding Vietnamese product fairs.

Recently, over three days (October 28-30), in Tuong Duong district, the Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development of Nghe An province, in coordination with the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, organized a market for typical agricultural products and OCOP products. The market attracted a large number of businesses, cooperatives, and exemplary farmers in the agricultural sector to showcase their products. With 25 booths, including 10 from Tuong Duong district and the remaining booths from other localities in the province such as Dien Chau, Do Luong, Anh Son, and Con Cuong, this was an opportunity for businesses to introduce their products to consumers, distributors, agents, and supermarkets.

Previously, to enhance trade promotion and product consumption, on October 25th, the People's Committee of Vinh City organized a Supply-Demand Connection event. This event attracted 40 businesses from Nghe An province to participate in introducing and promoting their characteristic products and OCOP products, with 200 items displayed in booths along both sides of Ho Tung Mau pedestrian street (Vinh City). The program was organized to support production and business units of OCOP products and characteristic products of Vinh City and districts and towns in the province. It aimed to find and expand consumption markets; and introduce products into the system of supermarkets, distributors, and suppliers in the area.

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To date, 124 out of 403 OCOP products and 27 out of 96 typical rural industrial products are agricultural products and processed products from agricultural products. Products manufactured in the area have entered supply chains such as BigC, MM Mega Market, Lotte, Bach Hoa Xanh, Aeon, Maxi Mart… and food and grocery store systems belonging to establishments such as: Bien Quynh Joint Stock Company (12 products), Thanh Phuc Clean Vermicelli Company, Luong Son Rice Cracker Company (3 products), Pu Mat Medicinal Herbs Company (13 products), Do Luong Confectionery Establishment (3 products), Lac Sen of Sy Thang Agricultural and Forestry Products Company (2 products), Cam Vinh Ky Yen of Phu Quy Farm Joint Stock Company…

Strengthening trade connections

For a long time now, the image of companies and businesses such as Hadalifa Nutrition Co., Ltd., C&G Food Joint Stock Company, Nghe An Aquatic Products Joint Stock Company, Hang Moon Herbal Import-Export Co., Ltd., Tu Phuong Food Joint Stock Company, etc., has been familiar to consumers. The OCOP products displayed and introduced by representatives of Nghe An companies and businesses at the event have brought richness and diversity to the product range, attracting the attention of a large number of people and partner organizations both domestically and internationally.

At these events, export businesses, domestic distributors, and foreign distributors have the opportunity to meet reputable OCOP (One Commune One Product) entities to expand and diversify their sources of supply.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, Head of the Trade Management Department of the Department of Industry and Trade, said: "In the past period, we have strengthened support for businesses to develop the domestic market and promote trade activities, connect businesses, and sell products. We organized booths to display goods and products for consumers in a series of events in response to Vietnam Consumer Rights Day; developed a plan to organize a Vietnamese goods market in mountainous areas of the district; and organized a delegation of Nghe An businesses to participate in trade connection activities at major domestic trade fairs."

“We also regularly coordinate with localities and organizations to monitor the operations of businesses, production facilities, and the harvesting and consumption of agricultural products in the area. This allows us to provide timely support, resolve difficulties, and provide information to facilitate the connection and consumption of agricultural products. Farmers, cooperatives, and businesses participating in product exhibitions all hope to be connected and have their products selected for placement on the shelves of large supermarkets. This increases market share and revenue, bringing products closer to consumers,” shared the Head of the Trade Management Department of the Department of Industry and Trade.

In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade organized business networking conferences between businesses in Nghe An province and businesses in Houston, Texas (USA); organized a delegation to attend a business networking program and trade fair in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and participated in export trade promotion activities both domestically and internationally: setting up a provincial booth and participating in the "Connecting International Goods Supply Chains" event series in Ho Chi Minh City and the trade promotion and import/export development event series in the Central region in Da Nang…

For textile and garment products, the industry actively supports textile and garment businesses in participating in trade promotion activities and contacting trade attachés to expand and find consumer markets. Several businesses, such as Minh Anh Kim Lien, Hi-Tex, Sangwoo, and Woin Vina, have shown positive signs of increased orders in the first few months of 2024.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, currently, along with strengthening supply-demand connections, expanding agricultural product markets, and focusing on effectively exploiting the domestic market, the industry is promoting e-commerce activities and supporting businesses in applying e-commerce in product distribution and consumption. It is also effectively deploying information technology platforms for trade promotion activities to meet the requirements of trade promotion in the new situation and enhance competitiveness. New forms of trade promotion are being implemented through online environments, digital transformation, and effective participation in the digital trade promotion ecosystem.