Hanoi Focuses on Creating Quality OCOP Products

Hanoi is the leading locality in the country in implementing the OCOP program - the "One Commune One Product" program. With active support from the city government, the OCOP program has had strong and effective development steps in Hanoi, contributing to increasing people's income as well as promoting the capital's economy.

According to the Hanoi New Rural Development Program Coordination Office, since 2019, when the OCOP Program was launched by the Prime Minister, Hanoi has so far evaluated and classified 3,317 OCOP products; including 6 5-star products, 22 potential 5-star products, 1,571 4-star products and 1,718 3-star products. The above results not only make Hanoi the locality with the largest number of products evaluated and classified as OCOP in the country, but also complete 1 year ahead of schedule the target of Program No. 04-CTr/TU of the 17th City Party Committee for the period 2021 - 2025 (striving to recognize at least 2,000 OCOP products).

In recent years, craft village products, especially Hanoi's handicraft products, have found a foothold in the domestic and international markets. In particular, products participating in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program are evaluated and ranked at 4 stars and 5 stars, contributing to building brands for craft village products. In order to develop sustainably as well as build brands for OCOP products, in the coming time, Hanoi will focus on developing deeply processed products and local specialties to elevate OCOP products.

In Bat Trang commune, Gia Lam district (Hanoi), there are also about 50 OCOP products that have been evaluated and classified; including products that are rated 5 stars - the highest ranking on the current OCOP rating scale.

Thanks to participating in the OCOP Program, the most unique and special products of the craft village have been highly appreciated by domestic and foreign consumers. Among many typical enterprises and production facilities in Bat Trang craft village, Quang Vinh Ceramics Joint Stock Company is a testament to the success in developing traditional crafts. Ms. Ha Thi Vinh, Director of Quang Vinh Ceramics Joint Stock Company, said that the company has 4 products: "Red lotus ceramic bowl and plate set", "Swallow and lotus ceramic bowl and plate set", "Dragon and phoenix ceramic bowl and plate set" and "Swallow and lotus ceramic tea set" participating in OCOP and being rated 5 stars.

At Phuong Soat Business Establishment (Chuong Duong Ward, Hoan Kiem District), one of the units has been granted OCOP certification by the Hanoi People's Committee for 3 products including: sesame cookies, spider egg cookies and Sampa cakes. Ms. Dinh Thi Tu Anh - Owner of Phuong Soat Business Establishment said that this is the first time participating in the OCOP Program. "The City OCOP Council conducted a very strict assessment of our 3 products. The City's assessment score is lower than that of the District OCOP Council...", Ms. Tu Anh shared more.

Deputy Chief of Office in charge of the Office of Coordination of the Hanoi New Rural Development Program Ngo Van Ngon said that right from the beginning of the implementation of the OCOP Program, the City has a policy of not chasing after the quantity of products. Therefore, the assessment and classification are carried out seriously, ensuring objectivity and impartiality.

“The OCOP Council members come from many departments of the City, closely following the criteria stipulated in Decision No. 1048/QD-TTg and Decision No. 781/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, as well as the operating regulations of the City OCOP Council to ensure that the products are awarded stars that are worthy…”, Mr. Ngo Van Ngon added.

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien - Director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, currently the whole country has more than 15,000 OCOP products, of which Hanoi has more than 3,300 products, accounting for about 1/5 to 1/4 of the total. However, if we cannot keep up with consumption trends and meet the strict standards of export markets such as Europe, the US or China, this position will be difficult to maintain.

We cannot be satisfied with 3,300 products and a few honoring ceremonies. OCOP products, if they want to survive and spread, must become a link in the green economic strategy, digital transformation and integration into the world market. To promote the consumption of OCOP products, there are 3 key issues. That is quality, based on the application of science and technology; design and packaging must meet both domestic and international markets; and focus on building brands and registering for protection and at the same time implementing brand programs. Along with that, sellers should combine direct experience and livestream product introduction. Attach products to cultural stories, traditions and raw materials to create products for users to experience, bringing OCOP products further.

According to Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Xuan Dai, in the initial phase of implementing the OCOP Program, the city encourages economic sectors to participate. However, in order to increase competitiveness and build a strong brand for OCOP products, in the coming phase, the city will focus on developing deeply processed products and local specialties. Also, according to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dai, to control the quality of OCOP products, every year, the City establishes inspection teams to inspect the implementation of the OCOP Program and actual production activities at the facilities. Through monitoring, timely reminding, correcting, and even revoking OCOP product certificates for entities that do not maintain the prescribed criteria. In the coming time, the Hanoi New Rural Development Program Coordination Office recommends that localities continue to direct and support entities to evaluate and reclassify expired OCOP products. At the same time, continue to support entities to upgrade products to compete for upgrading, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the Capital's OCOP products.

By Bao Dan, Vietnam Business Forum