Thanh Oai - Actively Exploiting Economic Potential from OCOP

Implementing the OCOP Program associated with building advanced and exemplary new rural areas, in recent times, Thanh Oai district has focused on leading and directing communes and towns to promote their potential and strengths, focusing on developing agricultural products and typical products to create their own brands for each locality.

As one of the localities with many products recognized in the One Commune One Product Program (OCOP), associated with traditional craft villages, Thanh Oai district is actively exploiting the economic potential from OCOP.
In the period of 2019-2024, Thanh Oai district has 126 OCOP products evaluated and classified in 20/21 communes and towns. Of which, 35 products achieved 3 stars, 91 products achieved 4 stars. Many typical products associated with craft villages, traditional culture and local endemic agricultural products have affirmed their quality and competitiveness.

Some cooperatives with OCOP products are Hoang Long Cooperative with 9 meat and meat products achieving 4-star OCOP; Tam Hung Agricultural Cooperative has 3 products of Bac Thom No. 7 rice, Nep Cai Hoa Vang rice, Dai Thom 8 rice achieving 4-star OCOP; Binh Minh Cooperative has 2 products of J02 rice, Dai Thom 8 achieving 3-star OCOP; Do Dong Agricultural Cooperative has 2 products of Bac Thom No. 7 rice achieving 3-star OCOP; Bich Hoa Agricultural Cooperative has 2 products of Bun and Banh Cuon achieving 4-star OCOP; Kim An Agricultural Cooperative has Oi Kim An product achieving 4-star OCOP. Along with focusing on developing OCOP products in the area, a bright spot in Thanh Oai that cannot be ignored is the economic development models with annual revenue of up to billions of VND. A typical example is the economic development model of Hoang Long Cooperative - Tan Uoc commune operating according to a closed food chain, A - Z brand (from breeding production - animal feed - livestock - slaughter - preliminary processing, processing - preservation - transportation - distribution). The economic development model of Hoang Long Cooperative not only produces and supplies the market with clean and safe food products to consumers but also brings economic efficiency with an average revenue of about 40 billion/year, an average profit of about 4 billion/year, bringing stable income to workers here with an average of 10 million VND/month
To promote and create output for OCOP products, Thanh Oai district has arranged 3 points to display, introduce and sell OCOP products in Tam Hung, Phuong Trung, and Bich Hoa communes. OCOP products have initially been recognized by consumers for their product brands and highly appreciated for their quality, gaining the trust of consumers. Revenues of most products have increased by 15-25% compared to before participating in the OCOP program, contributing to increasing people's income. Some OCOP products highlight the value of craft village products, regional specialties such as: Tan Uoc ham, Chuong village conical hat, Phuong Trung commune, Boi Khe rice, Tam Hung commune...

From the economic value brought when implementing the OCOP program, Mr. Khuat Huu Tuan, Head of the Economic Department of Thanh Oai district, said that in 2025, the District People's Committee issued a specific Plan in which the goal is to strive to have 5-10 or more products participating, evaluated (for the first time) at 3 stars or more, associated with building an advanced NTM commune, a model NTM; strive to develop 1-2 more points to introduce and sell OCOP products in the area. “Developing OCOP products is a mandatory criterion in building advanced, exemplary new rural areas. Therefore, in the coming time, Thanh Oai will continue to mobilize the participation of the entire political system, especially the role of commune-level leaders in implementing the OCOP Program. Strengthening information and propaganda work on the OCOP Program. Promoting trade promotion, advertising and introducing OCOP products. Applying information technology and digital transformation in communicating about the OCOP Program. Strengthening the management of OCOP product quality…”, said Mr. Khuat Huu Tuan.

Chairman of Thanh Oai District People's Committee Bui Van Sang emphasized: “Developing OCOP products is an important criterion in building exemplary new rural areas. The district will continue to mobilize the participation of the entire political system, especially the initiative of the commune level; at the same time, promoting propaganda, trade promotion and developing the system of displaying and introducing OCOP products in a more professional and systematic direction”.

Along with market promotion, Thanh Oai identifies the application of information technology and digital transformation in production, communication and consumption of OCOP products as an inevitable requirement. This is the basis for transparent product information, traceability, and expanding connections with domestic and foreign markets.

In addition to developing new products, the district also directs communes, towns and OCOP entities to review and prepare documents to re-evaluate OCOP products according to the 36-month cycle from the date of recognition. Many communes have registered new products such as: Chicken eggs (Lien Chau), dried pho, traditional wine (Thanh Mai), greenhouse cucumbers (Thanh Cao) ... This is a positive signal in maintaining and expanding the list of local OCOP products.

“For OCOP products to develop sustainably and have a firm foothold in the market, the subjects need to understand the entire process from production, appraisal, quality control to building a market strategy. In particular, craft village products need to have a distinctive image, with their own identity to create highlights and enhance competitiveness”. Chairman of Thanh Oai District People's Committee Bui Van Sang shared.
With a systematic and synchronous approach from product development to trade promotion, Thanh Oai District is gradually affirming the role of OCOP in rural economic development, increasing people's income and promoting the construction of a new model rural area. OCOP product introduction centers are not only places for trading but also a "bridge" to bring local products closer to the capital market and the whole country.

By Ngoc Dan, Vietnam Business Forum