Efforts to bring Nghe An's goods closer to markets outside the province.

NORTHERN MARKET ACCESS

Nghe An's products, especially in the agricultural sector, are very diverse, meeting requirements in terms of form, design, and quality, and are eligible for market circulation. Currently, there are 71 typical rural industrial products and over 200...OCOP productsRecognized by the Provincial People's Committee. Some of these products meet the requirements in terms of production scale and supply volume to enter domestic distribution chains, such as processed fish sauce, lotus seeds, lotus-based processed products, Pu Mat medicinal tea, green tea, Vinh oranges, and aquatic and seafood products…

However, to date, the number ofproducts and goods from Nghe AnProducts from Nghe An are only available through major domestic distributors, serving a very limited number of consumers. To facilitate access for Nghe An products to the Hanoi market and other northern provinces, the Department of Industry and Trade recently held a meeting with distributors in Hanoi, including BigC Thang Long Shopping Center, Lotte Mart, MM Mega Market Thang Long, and Aeon Mall Long Bien Shopping Center.

The Domestic Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Department of Industry and Trade of Nghe An province worked together to connect product consumption at MM Mega Market supermarket. Photo: TH

Participating in this product showcase were Nghia Dan oranges (1/5 Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Cooperative), Xa Doai oranges (Thien Son Orange Farm), turmeric starch, turmeric and honey capsules, soybean powder, cereal powder, kudzu powder (Binh An Agricultural Service Cooperative), Thanh Chuong green tea (Thanh Duc Agricultural and Tea Processing Cooperative); tea (filter bags, instant tea, extract) from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Silybum marianum, Gymnema sylvestre (Pu Mat Medicinal Herbs Joint Stock Company);…

Through these working sessions, distribution units have approached products from Nghe An province and assigned their market research departments to guide them through the necessary procedures and methods for introducing products into their distribution systems. Mr. Trinh Xuan Giao, owner of Thien Son orange farm, one of the establishments whose products participated in this introduction, said: Businesses and production units have received information from the distribution system regarding requirements for design, packaging, quality, methods, and processes for bringing goods into modern distribution channels. Currently, Xa Doai oranges from Thien Son farm, meeting Global standards, have been introduced into supermarket systems. However, these working sessions provide an opportunity for businesses and production facilities to review their product quality management, thereby developing specific strategies and plans to improve, seek, develop, and expand their markets.

Introducing products manufactured by businesses in Nghe An province to distribution channels in Hanoi. Photo: TH

The current challenge is product quality management. Through market research, production facilities have realized that sustainable development requires research and self-improvement. Our Thien Son oranges, in particular, have achieved Global standards and are being sold in supermarkets such as BigC Thang Long, Lotte Mart, and MM Mega Market Thang Long.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Giao - Owner of Thien Son Orange Farm

Currently, in addition to improving quality, businesses in Nghe An have paid more attention to investing in product design. Mr. Pham Van Hoa, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said: Packaging specifications have been improved to be more beautiful and eye-catching; product packaging and labels are invested in according to standards; methods of product preservation, brand protection, and related quality-related paperwork have also received more attention from production and business units. Through trade connections, businesses have been supported in grasping market trends and consumer preferences, thereby building more effective production and business plans.

Previously, to enable Nghe An's goods to access the vast market in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, at the supply-demand connection conference between Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities on December 2nd, the Department of Industry and Trade promptly announced the situation and provided information on key suppliers of goods, especially agricultural products from the province, to the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, other provinces and cities, associations, and businesses to facilitate consumption connections...

EFFECTIVENESS FROM NETWORKING AND MARKET SEARCH

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many supply chains; numerous markets, businesses, and shops have been forced to cease operations. Goods circulation has become difficult, even within provinces, leading to low purchasing power and challenges in the export market. At times, many agricultural products are harvested in abundance, but purchasing power is concentrated on essential goods for daily life and consumption, while other product categories experience slow or difficult sales.

Many agricultural products from Nghe An are now available in supermarket chains, meeting the needs of the people. Photo: TH

In light of this situation, over the past year, Nghe An province has implemented numerous solutions to develop the provincial market, boost goods circulation, and enhance connectivity between production and the market through supply chains to several localities nationwide. The province has also regularly coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to identify difficulties in production.consumption of agricultural productsto implement support solutions.

Thanks to this, during the implementation of Directive 16+, some localities facing difficulties in agricultural product consumption have had their problems resolved, such as Vinh City (vegetables, fruits, poultry eggs, livestock and poultry meat), Con Cuong district (all raw tea products have been sold), Quynh Luu district (vegetables and fruits of all kinds have stable purchasing agents), Nam Dan and Nghi Loc districts (vegetables and fruits are being sold stably, traders have returned to approach and consume products, supplying local markets in some neighboring localities), and Hung Nguyen district has sold about 400 tons of lemons.

Medicinal products of Pù Mát Medicinal Herbs Joint Stock Company. Photo: Thu Huyền

The Department of Industry and Trade also supports, introduces, and connects agricultural products to purchasing agents for direct supply to Vinh City. It issues documents to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities; the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, political and social organizations, provincial departments and agencies, the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns, and businesses supplying and distributing goods to coordinate implementation. It also organizes meetings with large distribution systems such as BigC, MM Mega Market, Wincomerce, and Bibi Green to connect and facilitate consumption within their systems.

The Department of Industry and Trade has effectively implemented many initiatives, such as: organizing working sessions in several coastal localities to understand the difficulties and obstacles in the consumption of fresh and frozen seafood products; then promptly coordinating with the Trade Promotion Department, the Domestic Market Department, and distribution systems such as Wincomerce, Lotte, and MM Mega Market to resolve issues and find sustainable outlets for seafood products; and supporting and connecting Wincommerce General Trading and Service Joint Stock Company (Winmart+ system) to organize a seminar to explore opportunities and cooperation in Vinh City.

At this time of year, Vinh oranges are entering their harvest season, and organizing a live stream from the orchard helps promote the image of Vinh oranges to consumers both domestically and internationally. Photo: TĐ

Suppliers, supermarkets, and agricultural product retail chains in the area have established stable connections and consumption of several items, specifically: vegetables and fruits of all kinds, approximately 83 tons/day (of which about 50-60 tons are supplied to other provinces and cities); aquatic and seafood products, approximately 7 tons/day; and meat and egg products, approximately 6 tons/day. The main sources of agricultural products are from Vinh City, Nghia Dan, Quynh Luu, Do Luong, Anh Son, Quy Hop, Ky Son, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, and Cua Lo Town.

The Department of Industry and Trade also advised the Provincial People's Committee to implement a working program with the Domestic Market Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Wincommerce General Trading and Service Joint Stock Company in Nghe An province to connect and consume Vinh oranges and other goods of the province. At the working session, Wincommerce signed cooperation agreements with 7 businesses and organizations producing oranges, lotus seeds, lotus products, aquatic products, medicinal products, clean vegetables, etc. The leaders of the Domestic Market Department and the leaders of the Wincommerce system expressed their view to continue to pay attention to, support, and connect the consumption of Nghe An products into nationwide distribution systems.

Businesses and distributors are surveying and selecting OCOP products that meet the criteria for inclusion in modern retail systems. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Building on the positive results in connecting supply and demand, Mr. Pham Van Hoa stated that the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to maintain, improve, and innovate these programs in terms of organization to provide more effective support to businesses and cooperatives. In addition to traditional methods, emphasis will be placed on online platforms; promoting the application and consumption of products through major Vietnamese e-commerce sites such as Shopee, Sendo, Tiki, and Lazada.

We also guide businesses to proactively research market needs, gradually modernize production, and apply technology to strictly manage safe production processes and inspect product quality before selling to the market, ensuring that agricultural products are consumed within the value chain meeting domestic and importing countries' standards. In particular, we focus on guiding the production of products according to Global GAP, Organic, GMP, HACCP, and ISO standards; thereby implementing several projects linking production, distribution, and consumption to establish and develop a sustainable market and product consumption.

Mr. Pham Van Hoa - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade