Many advantages create momentum for the development of OCOP in Nghe An.
Following the implementation of a two-tiered local government system, communes and wards in Nghe An province have entered a new phase of the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program. The expanded geographical area of these localities, streamlined administrative procedures, flexible regional linkages, and support from management agencies have created additional momentum to improve quality, expand markets, and promote the Nghe An OCOP brand further.
Flexible adaptation
These days, in Hamlet 2, Trung Loc Commune, Mr. Hoang Duy Sy - a member of the honey beekeeping cooperative - is busy changing product labels to reflect the new local name. Previously, the product packaging listed the address as "Hamlet 2, Nghi Xa Commune, Nghi Loc District," but this has now been changed to "Trung Loc Commune, Nghe An Province" following the merger.
This change is not simply about updating address information, but also about brand consistency, creating a professional image, and increasing credibility in the market.
It is known that the Nghi Xa (formerly) commune beekeeping cooperative had 20 members, supplying thousands of liters of high-quality honey annually, and was considered a product with great potential. After the establishment of Trung Loc commune, the number of members participating in the cooperative increased, the raw material supply became more abundant with the addition of new bee colonies, the production-consumption linkage became closer and gained more attention from the local government.
Mr. Tran Nguyen Hoa, Chairman of the People's Committee of Trung Loc commune, said that the commune was recently formed from four communes: Nghi Long, Nghi Thuan, Nghi Quang, and Nghi Xa. Located in the center of the former Nghi Loc district, near the North Vinh bus station, and with National Highway 1A and N5 running through it, Trung Loc commune has favorable conditions to bring its distinctive products to market. Currently, the locality has 5 recognized OCOP products: shallots, honey, yellow cantaloupe, Dien pomelo, and netted melon.
"Previously, each commune only had one OCOP product; now, after the merger, the number has increased many times over. This is the foundation for us to focus on investing, upgrading quality, and creating product brands for the locality," Mr. Hoa said.
Minh Chau commune was formed from four communes: Hanh Quang, Dien Nguyen, Minh Chau (formerly), and Dien Cat. Before the merger, each former commune had its own distinctive products: Dien Nguyen commune was known for shallots; Hanh Quang commune was famous for vermicelli, rice noodles, and fried cakes; Dien Cat commune was known for lotus seeds…
Mr. Le The Hieu, Vice Chairman of the Minh Chau Commune People's Committee, shared: “After Minh Chau commune was newly established with a larger area, we set a goal of both improving the quality of existing products and seeking new products to create product diversity for the locality, while also helping people and businesses earn more income. Commercial rice, lotus products, and souvenirs associated with the Co Am Pagoda scenic spot are priority areas. The locality will complete the application process for these items to be considered for OCOP products in the near future.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Men, Director of Mom Beauty Production and Trading Co., Ltd., a company with many OCOP-recognized products in Vinh Loc ward, said: "The company is also reviewing its entire production process, upgrading machinery, and adding traceability information to packaging to meet the increasingly high demands of the market. This change not only helps products more easily reach consumers but also affirms the professionalism and reputation of the brand in this new development phase."
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hang, Deputy Head of the Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development in Nghe An province, the implementation of a two-tiered local government system helps newly established communes and wards expand production scale, ensure raw material supply, and promote the creation of new products.
In particular, procedural reforms have created a significant shift. Previously, OCOP (One Commune One Product) dossiers from businesses had to go through many stages from the commune and district levels before being reviewed at the provincial level, especially for potential products with 4-5 stars; now, communes and wards will send dossiers directly to the province for assessment, shortening the time and costs…
Focus on improving product quality.
By mid-August 2025, Nghe An province will have 743 OCOP products achieving 3 stars or higher. If calculated based on the old 412 communes and wards, each commune averages over 1.8 products; if calculated based on the current 130 new communes and wards, each commune averages over 5.7 products – an impressive figure nationwide.
Currently, supermarkets are selling dozens of OCOP products from Nghe An, mainly fish sauce, vegetables, fruits, seafood, etc. Previously, due to the small area of the communes and limited raw material sources, some OCOP products were frequently out of stock and insufficient to meet the demand of the people. But now, with the merger and expansion of communes and wards, ensuring a stable supply will certainly be easier.
Mr. Nham Sy Thanh - Director of LOTTE Mart Vinh supermarket
According to experts, expanding the geographical scope not only helps OCOP products maintain a stable supply but also creates conditions for local authorities to play a connecting and collaborative role with stakeholders in the product development process.
Speaking with reporters, Ms. Vo Thi Nhung, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, assessed: “The role of the commune level in developing OCOP products in the future is particularly important. Granting more authority to communes and wards after the elimination of the district level allows local governments to proactively support, supervise, propose capital and technical needs, and promote products. OCOP producers also have easier access to trade promotion programs, skills training, and loans for expanding production.”
Besides the advantages, the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment also frankly pointed out the challenges that localities need to strive to improve in quality monitoring, avoiding the situation where some products lower standards, affecting the overall brand reputation of the locality…
Regarding the future development direction of OCOP products, Nghe An aims to focus on improving quality and upgrading the ranking of typical products, striving for standardization according to national and international standards, while also promoting them through various channels and media. Simultaneously, it directs units and localities to seek and support new products linked to the unique advantages of each locality, in order to diversify OCOP products and meet the increasingly high demands of the market.
