Agricultural products meeting place in Viet Bac region

Implementing Decision No. 194/QD-TTg dated February 9, 2021 of the Prime Minister on innovation in business methods and consumption of agricultural products in the period of 2021-2025, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces (before the merger) have synchronously deployed many solutions to promote trade and connect product consumption. Thousands of enterprises, cooperatives and production households have been supported to participate in domestic and international fairs and exhibitions, contributing to expanding the consumption market and increasing the value of local agricultural products.

Online sales (livestream) have been promoted and effectively promoted by many businesses and cooperatives in the province.

Create a multi-dimensional network of connections

Over the past 5 years, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan have effectively implemented the Project "Innovation in business methods and consumption of agricultural products" for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030. Many fairs, agricultural and craft village festivals associated with tourism have been organized on a large scale, creating a strong influence, effectively connecting supply and demand not only in the region but also nationwide.

In the period of 2021-2025, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces have recorded 35 trade promotion events, such as: 3 Thai Nguyen Industry and Trade Fairs - OCOP, 2 Agricultural Products Festivals - OCOP - Craft Villages, 2 Spring Fairs, "Each commune, ward, one product" Fair... with hundreds of booths and the participation of many provinces and cities across the country.

Along with that are specialized programs, such as: Promoting fragrant green squash, Bac Kan vermicelli, custard apple and Phu Binh hill chicken; organizing "Bringing Vietnamese goods to the mountains" markets; Thai Nguyen agricultural products week in the provinces; dozens of "Stimulating domestic consumption" programs associated with the Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods"... The programs have contributed to promoting product brands, boosting production and consumption activities; at the same time, expanding the market, increasing the value of local agricultural products.

Customers from Japan surveyed the mushroom production facility of Phu Gia Mushroom Biotechnology Co., Ltd. to sign a cooperation agreement.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Deputy Director of Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade, commented: The greatest success of trade promotion programs is to create a multi-dimensional connection network, from production to distribution, from local to regional and national. Thanks to that, agricultural products of Thai Nguyen province and Bac Kan province (old) are not only promoted for consumption but also position their brands on the map of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Along with traditional trade promotion activities, e-commerce is gradually becoming a key and effective channel for agricultural product consumption. To date, more than 100 local OCOP products have been put on domestic and international e-commerce platforms.

In 2024 alone, 8 cooperatives will participate in sales on Shopee and Backanmarket; 10 units will apply the iTrace247 traceability system. Units will be guided to create accounts, post product information, certify quality, create and print QR codes for traceability, contributing to improving the effectiveness of product promotion and consumption on digital platforms.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, Director of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (Bac Kan Ward), shared: The cooperative was established in 2017, specializing in processing agricultural products with key products related to turmeric (such as: black glutinous rice turmeric starch, red glutinous rice turmeric starch, dried turmeric slices...). All products are 100% natural organic and meet 4-star OCOP standards.

Thanks to the support of the province and relevant agencies, the cooperative’s products have been put on many e-commerce platforms such as VoSo, Postmart and Alibaba.com (one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world). Participation in online platforms has helped the cooperative’s revenue increase steadily by 15-20% each year, expanding the domestic market and initially approaching exports.

Thai Nguyen's general agricultural products stall on Shopee.

Thai Nguyen is also the pioneer locality in the country to open a common agricultural product stall on Shopee, the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia.

Ms. Bui Thi Hai Yen, Director of Ban Viet Cooperative, the unit operating the booth, said: To promote widely, every day at 12 and 20 o'clock, the Cooperative organizes livestreams to introduce 4-5 typical agricultural products of Thai Nguyen, combining with Facebook to lead customers to place orders on Shopee. In just 4 months, the booth has organized 120 livestream sessions, selling nearly 900 orders. The important thing is to help agricultural products reach modern customers, opening up a direction for sustainable development on a digital platform.

Towards sustainable exports

In addition to domestic promotion activities, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan are also actively expanding product promotion to international markets. In 2023, the Trade Promotion Center supported 4 businesses with 19 products to participate in the 2nd Global Overseas Vietnamese Economic Forum, the Vietnam - Kyushu (Japan) business connection program and promotion activities in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland.

Also in the year, more than 20 typical products of Thai Nguyen were displayed at the Vietnam - Japan Trade Conference held in Tokyo, creating a strong impression for local agricultural products. Continuing that momentum, in September 2024, Bac Kan province introduced its agricultural, forestry, mineral and tourism potential at the Vietnam - Korea Trade Conference held in Seoul, thereby contributing to expanding the market and increasing opportunities for international cooperation.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Director of Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative, shared: The most valuable thing is the opportunity to open new doors for local products. From conferences to the negotiation table, we clearly feel the interest of international partners not only for the products, but also for the cultural story and people behind them.

For our cooperative, Viet Cuong Vermicelli products that meet OCOP standards are a "passport" to be placed on the shelves of major supermarkets and exported to many markets, such as Taiwan, China, Norway, and Germany. Since the beginning of this year, we have also received orders from Australia - opening up new expectations for promoting local agricultural trade, said Mr. Nguyen Van Ba.

Bac Kan Agricultural Products Joint Stock Company carries out an order to export turmeric starch to the Chinese market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le, Deputy Director of Bac Ha Pharmaceutical Technology Joint Stock Company, said: To export to the US and China, we invested in modern production lines and strictly followed quality control. The products were well received by the market, opening up opportunities for the province's medicinal herbs to participate deeply in the global value chain.

Currently, Thai Nguyen province has 560 3-5 star OCOP products, including 113 4-star products and 397 3-star products. Promotion activities have become a strategic step in building a sustainable production - consumption - export chain.

Affirming Thai Nguyen agricultural product brand

The implementation of projects under Decision No. 194/QD-TTg has helped increase product consumption, link production to the market and create a foundation to elevate Thai Nguyen agricultural products. After the merger, the Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to support enterprises and cooperatives to participate in the program "Thai Nguyen Product Booth", focusing on promoting OCOP products and typical rural industries on e-commerce platforms.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said: We regularly summarize the difficulties of enterprises, work directly with Ban Viet Cooperative to effectively operate "Ban Viet - Thai Nguyen Booth" on Shopee and survey, compile statistics, and evaluate the e-commerce development situation in the area according to the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in the Conclusion Notice No. 22/TB-UBND dated March 7, 2025.

Store staff display products of Ban Viet Cooperative introducing products to foreign customers.

At the same time, the Department of Industry and Trade continues to research policies and strategies for advising on e-commerce activities, digital transformation, trade promotion; promoting and raising public awareness of turmeric products and vermicelli products of the Northeast region to domestic consumers. Linking promotion with ensuring quality, food safety and price transparency, creating trust with consumers... This effort is contributing to forming a sustainable consumption channel, enhancing the brand of Thai Nguyen agricultural products and expanding the international market.

Imprints of e-commerce connection and digital transformation to promote trade in Thai Nguyen province:

• Nearly 40 trade promotion events will be held during the 2021-2025 period.

• Attracting thousands of products and businesses from 70 provinces and cities.

• 100+ OCOP products and agricultural products on e-commerce platforms (Shopee, Lazada, Backanmarket...).

• Support 8 cooperatives to participate in e-commerce platforms; 10 units apply iTrace247 traceability (QR code).

• Revenue from e-commerce channels increases by 12-15%/year in the period 2021-2025.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202508/diem-hen-nong-san-vung-viet-bac-f1733ea/