"Taking off" for OCOP products to reach further markets.

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program has been fostering creativity and promoting a shift in production mindset among people, cooperatives, and businesses in the province. Many policies promoting private sector development, innovation, and digital transformation have given OCOP-certified products the opportunity to expand their markets and enhance their value. To help OCOP products in the province take off and reach further, it is necessary to confront the current situation, identify obstacles, and find appropriate solutions for sustainable development ahead.

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program has been fostering creativity and promoting a shift in production mindset among people, cooperatives, and businesses in the province.

Many policies promoting the private sector , innovation, and digital transformation, along with OCOP-certified products, are creating opportunities for market expansion and value enhancement. To help the province's OCOP products take off and reach further, it is necessary to confront the current situation, identify obstacles, and find appropriate solutions for sustainable development ahead.

Part 1: Exploiting indigenous resources and developing the rural economy.

Over the years, the OCOP program in Vinh Long has been creating an increasingly diverse product "map," facilitating regional linkages, increasing value, and enhancing competitiveness. Alongside this, a series of policies and guidelines from the central to local levels have acted as a "lever," helping OCOP businesses expand their markets, promote innovation, and transform strongly in this new phase of development.

OCOP (One Commune One Product) businesses proactively participate in trade promotion activities and connect supply and demand to expand their markets. Photo: THAO LY

When policy acts as a "lever"

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, after more than 7 years of implementing the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program, the province has achieved many positive results, gradually affirming the role of OCOP in rural economic development. From the outset, the province identified OCOP as a key program, subsequently issuing many appropriate mechanisms and policies to support product development, while also leveraging guidance and support from the central government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Central Office for New Rural Development Coordination.

In particular, OCOP products have been "boosted" by many major policies and guidelines from the central to local levels, creating a favorable environment for OCOP to transform strongly. Accordingly, the Government's resolutions on promoting the private economy, especially Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15, have provided many practical supports.

This not only contributes to improving the investment and business environment but also expands access to capital, land, science and technology, and markets for businesses and cooperatives. It is also an important foundation for promoting the private sector – the core force of OCOP – to play its role and gradually enhance its competitiveness.

In addition, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and the Government's Action Program, Resolution No. 03/NQ-CP on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation will create strong momentum for entities with OCOP products.

Improving the investment and business environment towards transparency and stability also helps businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses confidently expand production. At the same time, supportive policies regarding finance, credit, taxes, and fees contribute to reducing cost pressures and creating conditions for enhancing competitiveness. In particular, the orientation to encourage businesses to participate more deeply in large value chains opens opportunities for OCOP products, especially those with export potential, to gradually reach international markets.

Moreover, digital transformation is expanding the consumption space as products can effectively access e-commerce platforms, online sales channels, and digital marketing. The process of deep international integration also brings many new opportunities. OCOP products have the opportunity to participate in global supply chains and access potential markets if they meet quality standards. Integration also helps businesses learn management experience, access advanced technology, and attract foreign investment, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.

Expanding the scope for OCOP (One Commune One Product)

In reality, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is playing a crucial role in guiding production towards greater depth. Leveraging local resource advantages, OCOP entities are gradually shifting from mere exploitation to enhancing value through the application of processing technology, standardizing quality, and linking production with market demand, creating a foundation for sustainable product development.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, after the merger, the convergence of characteristic specialty product groups from each locality not only enriches the product "map" but also opens up opportunities to increase value through chain linkages and mutual support in production and consumption.

According to Mr. Vo Tien Si, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, one of the outstanding advantages is the expansion of market space and scale after the merger. With strengthened regional linkages, OCOP products are no longer confined to the local area but have the opportunity to access a larger market in the Mekong Delta and key economic regions of the South.

This helps businesses diversify their distribution channels, increase sales opportunities, and expand their customer base. “The expanded development space also creates room for combining OCOP (One Commune One Product) with experiential tourism and traditional craft villages. Through this, products are not only consumed through commercial channels but also linked to cultural experiences, contributing to enhancing their value and attractiveness to domestic and international tourists,” Mr. Si added.

By the end of 2025, the entire province will have 1,137 OCOP-certified products from 662 entities, including businesses, cooperatives, production groups, and household businesses. The product structure is quite diverse, spanning many groups such as food, beverages, herbal products, handicrafts, and rural tourism services. This is not only a quantitative achievement but also reflects a clear shift in production mindset, from small-scale production to a commodity-oriented approach with standards and market positioning.

In many localities, the exploitation and development of local resources are clearly guided through the OCOP program, linked with production standardization and value chain integration. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, Head of the Economic Department of An Binh Commune People's Committee, said: Currently, the locality has 14 OCOP products, including one product that has achieved 5 stars, gradually affirming its quality and position in the market.

To enhance the quality of its products, the commune has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions, including assigning planting area codes, developing production according to VietGAP standards, and applying science and technology in production, preservation, and consumption. Many effective production models, such as off-season fruit cultivation, cage fish farming, and goat farming, not only diversify product sources but also contribute to increasing people's income and creating resources for the development of OCOP products.

Producing OCOP products from coconut raw materials. Photo: THAO TIEN

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, the province currently has over 1,000 OCOP products, ranging from 5-star products to specialties achieving 3 and 4-star OCOP status, all reflecting the unique local identity. However, the journey from "gardens and production workshops" to "supermarket shelves" and reaching consumers is a long one, requiring adherence to many stringent standards. Therefore, the industry and trade sector will continue to innovate trade promotion activities towards a professional, multi-channel approach, linked to digital transformation.

The focus is on strengthening supply-demand connections, promoting digital trade, supporting businesses in participating in e-commerce platforms and livestreaming sales; while also supporting brand building, improving quality standards, and linking trade promotion with investment and tourism.

It is clear that, with the foundation already built and strong support from the right mechanisms and policies, Vinh Long's OCOP program is facing a great opportunity to develop in a more systematic, professional, and sustainable direction. The current challenge is not only to expand the number of participants but also to continue improving quality, strengthening chain linkages, and promoting the role of stakeholders in production, processing, and consumption.

Notably, many businesses with OCOP products operating effectively have become important pillars, creating momentum for dissemination, contributing to enhancing the value of local goods and promoting rural economic development in the context of increasingly deep integration.

SONG THẢO
 

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/202604/cat-canh-cho-san-pham-ocop-vuon-xa-41e0c79/