The sale of regional specialties is difficult and the branding for these products is still weak. Building inter-provincial networks and empowering local trade promotion centres is a great opportunity for developing regional specialties and geographical indications.
This is the main content of a workshop titled "Enhancing competitiveness for Vietnamese regional specialties" held in Hanoi by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade in cooperation with the Hanoi People’s Committee.
In his opening keynote presentation, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said, as a traditional agricultural country, Vietnam has a lot of regional specialties, which are not only sold in the country but are also exported to the world market with their leadership positions.
A survey by the Vietnam Rural Industries Research and Development Institute (VIRI) showed that Vietnam has had more than commodities certified national geographical indications and over 750 certified specialties since 2008. In fact, regional specialties bring incomes and employment to over 10 million people in rural areas of Vietnam.
Mr Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said, since Vietnam is integrating deeper into the ASEAN Community and the world, regional connectivity to raise the competitiveness of regional specialties is a practical, effective solution.
He stressed that regional connectivity develops not only material values but also spiritual values and each locality or region has its own specialties. Developing regional specialties refers to not only physical products but also cultural and spiritual categories. This not only helps build brands to enhance tourism potential for localities and regions.
While admitting potential and demand for regional specialties of Vietnam are enormous, a majority of workshop delegates agreed that the current development of products is limited due to the absence of regional connectivity and product development, especially the absence of regional links for construction of supply and distribution chains in domestic and international markets.
To enhance the competitiveness for Vietnam’s regional specialties and to boost exports to foreign markets, Deputy Minister Nguyen Cam Tu required clear long-term plans with specific targets to develop regional specialties, raise awareness and knowledge of speciality preservation and development for producers and public officials, complete and register product quality at the highest class of quality and standards, and build regional linking programmes to maximise regional advantages from product supply to end-product consumption.
Sharing the same point of view, Mr Le Ba Ngoc, General Secretary of the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (Vietcraft), thought that clear long-term plans with specific targets for regional specialties are needed instead of annual development plans. To achieve this, it is necessary to raise awareness of producers and officials in conserving and developing specialties. Most importantly, quality standpoints must be clearly defined from the start.
He added that Vietnam also needs to build advertising materials and stories about every product. Besides, it is necessary to establish and promote distribution systems in major cities and tourist centres.
Mr Le Quoc Vinh, CEO of Le Invest Group, proposed public-private cooperation in building markets for regional specialities.
The workshop also witnessed the signing of many cooperation agreements between provincial trade promotion centres on joint speciality development and distribution of regional specialties to consumers.
Mr Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Deputy Director of HCM City Department of Industry and Trade
Ho Chi Minh City and Southeast and Southwest provinces and cities always understand that the importance of comprehensive socioeconomic cooperation is a long-term mission and strategy to tap the potential and strengths of every locality to keep up with integration and development trends.
Since early 2011, HCM City signed agreements on trade cooperation and supply - demand connections with Southeast and Southwest provinces and cities, thus providing opportunities for businesses to conclude more than 800 contracts which produced annual transaction value of over VND19 trillion. Then, many products from other provinces and cities have been brought to the city’s trade centres, supermarkets and markets.
In the coming time, the city will coordinate with Southeast and Southwest provinces and cities to support businesses to expand production and business and improve product competitiveness.
Mr Le Quoc Vinh, CEO of Le Invest Group
The Government must lead communication and advertisement programmes for regional speciality brands; fund media programmes, provide regulatory frameworks for speciality markets, interconnect localities to form commodity supply and distribution systems to ensure quality and origin; set up and steer the Quality and Origin Supervision Committee.
Besides, localities must closely cooperate with consumer markets by applying specific policies and encouraging local businesses to take part in the system; fund media programmes for local specialties; establish continuous, reliable distribution systems with preferential prices for speciality markets and trade promotion events; ensure the supply of original products; and take part in local network expansion.
Mr Ta Van Long, Vice Chairman of Yen Bai Provincial People’s Committee
Nature conditions enable Yen Bai province to develop agriculture and forestry and produce popular specialties like hawthorn and Tu Le sticky rice. Although the sale of these products is still difficult, the branding of these products was has promoted. The public still has limited access to these products and their values are still low.
Yen Bai very much hopes to receive cooperation and support from businesses to expand consumption markets for its products. The province is ready to assist and cooperate with businesses and localities across the country to boost the consumption of their products in Yen Bai.
Thu Ha
Vietnamese
