Promoting the connection between supply and demand of agricultural products, food and tourism in the West

"Thanh Hoa province will direct its departments and agencies to advise, research, and prioritize the allocation of resources to develop commercial and tourism infrastructure, promoting trade and consumption of goods for businesses in mountainous areas. In particular, the province will focus on supporting the construction of infrastructure connected to tourist areas and destinations, with the goal of developing outstanding tourism products and creating distinctive highlights on the province's and the region's tourism map." This was emphasized by the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the 2024 Conference on Connecting Supply and Demand of Agricultural Products, Food, and Tourism in Western Thanh Hoa.

On the afternoon of December 6th, in Thuong Xuan district, the Provincial People's Committee organized the Conference on Connecting Supply and Demand for Agricultural Products, Food, and Tourism in Western Thanh Hoa Province in 2024. Mr. Nguyen Van Thi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, attended and chaired the conference.

Overview of the conference.

Attending the conference were representatives from the Son La Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center; leaders from provincial departments and agencies; business associations; tourism associations; travel agencies; and distributors of goods produced and traded in the province.

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Tran Duc Luong provided information on the socio-economic situation in the mountainous region.

The western region of Thanh Hoa province comprises 11 districts, with a natural area of ​​nearly 8,000 ^km² and a population of over 1.1 million people, of which more than 70% are ethnic minorities. In recent years, with the support of the central government and the province, localities in the western region of Thanh Hoa have focused on exploiting their potential and advantages to promote economic, trade, and tourism development. The average annual growth rate of industrial production value in the mountainous region is estimated at 10.25%. Total retail sales of goods and services in these localities have grown by an average of 20% per year; commercial enterprises have grown by an average of 8% - 10% per year.

Given the highly fragmented terrain creating regions with different climates, numerous rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes, and large water surface areas, the strengths of production facilities in mountainous areas lie in long-established agricultural, livestock, and processing products.

Many products in the mountainous region are endemic, rare, and have high economic value, with the potential for commercial development, such as: cinnamon essential oil and bamboo straws from Thuong Xuan district; Chau Lang longan candy, Chi Linh Son forest honey, and Muong Deng mac khen salt from Lang Chanh district; Kim Tan sugarcane, Van Du oranges, Vy Giang oranges, and guava from Thach Thanh district; Pu Luong forest honey and fragrant tangerine tea from Ba Thuoc district; Doi Ao vermicelli, Dat Cam forest honey, and Son Thanh fragrant sticky rice wine from Cam Thuy district; Huong Ngoc vermicelli, Thach Lap glutinous rice, Huong Que cassava starch, and brocade products from Ngoc Lac district; Cay Noi sticky rice and smoked buffalo meat from Muong Lat district; Muong Ca Da longan cake, dried bamboo shoots, dried beef, and Pieng Cu sour bamboo shoots from Quan Hoa district; and Tan Ma tea from Quan Son district...

Ms. Vuong Thi Hai Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province, delivered a speech at the conference.

The entire region has developed commodity production zones, creating many high-quality agricultural products, food, and medicinal herbs, with 135 products recognized as OCOP 3-star and 1 product recognized as OCOP 4-star, meeting the standards and quality requirements for distribution within the province, nationwide, and for export.

Mountainous districts have also built and developed linkages in the production and consumption of safe agricultural products and food; many of these linkages have been and are proving effective, such as dairy farming linked to milk processing plants of large enterprises.

Tourism activities, especially community-based tourism and ecotourism, are developing rapidly. During the period 2020-2024, the number of visitors to community-based tourism in the mountainous areas of the province achieved an average growth rate of 9.7%, higher than the provincial average.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dang Van Hiep, delivered a speech at the conference.

At the conference, delegates focused on evaluating the results in the development of agricultural production, trade, and tourism associated with the formation of typical commodity products in the western region of Thanh Hoa province; discussing and proposing solutions to improve the efficiency of production and business activities, promote linkages in agricultural product consumption, increase service revenue, and invest in tourism development in the western region in the coming time.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Xuan District, Loi Quang Vu, presented his remarks at the conference.

The discussion was chaired by the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Van Thi, and representatives from the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade and the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Leaders from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa province presented a paper on: The current situation and solutions for developing traditional handicraft souvenirs associated with tourism in the mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province.

Representatives from mountainous districts also analyzed several shortcomings and limitations in the development of trade and tourism in mountainous areas, such as: the scale of supply chain linkages is mostly small-scale and lacks sustainability; the percentage of products consumed through supply chain linkage contracts is still low; the output for agricultural products in some localities, businesses, and cooperatives still faces many difficulties, with consumption mainly through traditional markets; producers are still passive in production, lack market information, and are not closely linked with businesses in the value chain; issues related to transportation, the lack of sustainability of specialized farming areas, and harvesting and preservation processes...

A representative from the Son La Provincial Center for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion delivered a speech at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Comrade Nguyen Van Thi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: The socio-economic development of mountainous areas has been identified by the 19th Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee as one of the six key programs for the 2020-2025 term. Many programs, plans, and projects supporting economic development in this area have also been implemented by the Provincial People's Committee.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee delivered a speech at the networking conference.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that in the coming time, departments and units continue to pay attention to and advise the province to prioritize the allocation of resources from national target programs and the provincial budget to develop commercial and tourism infrastructure in mountainous districts; promote the effective implementation of eco-tourism and resort projects, promote tourism in mountainous districts, and link with outstanding tourist areas and destinations in localities inside and outside the province to form high-quality tours and routes; and regularly coordinate the organization of trade promotion programs, connecting the consumption of agricultural products, food, and tourism products of mountainous localities.

Delegates attending the conference.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that departments and agencies continue to support businesses, production cooperatives, and distribution businesses in the province in general, and in the 11 mountainous districts in particular, to participate in trade promotion programs and supply-demand connection activities to meet, seek cooperation opportunities, boost sales, and simultaneously inspect the production and business capacity of businesses and cooperatives; promptly resolve obstacles and difficulties faced by businesses and units in the sales process; build and develop brands; and effectively exploit opportunities from free trade agreements to export high-quality products and goods produced in the region that meet international market demands.

The comrade also suggested that mountainous districts continue to promote land consolidation to develop large-scale, highly efficient agricultural production areas along the value chain and linked to the market; strengthen efforts to attract businesses to invest in agriculture and trade, develop OCOP products, and build distinctive local agricultural product brands; maximize the potential and strengths of tourism, promote the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities; pay attention to human resource training as well as strengthen promotion to boost tourism development.

Delegates witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on supply-demand connectivity between the Mountain Region Group Joint Stock Company and various businesses and cooperatives.

Delegates witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on supply-demand connection between The City Vietnam Trading and Services Co., Ltd. and various businesses and cooperatives.

Thanh Hoa Tourism Association signs memorandum of understanding with VINACO Agricultural Investment & Development Consulting Company Limited.

At the conference, memoranda of understanding were signed regarding connecting the supply and demand of agricultural and food products and cooperation in development between production and consumption/distribution businesses, as well as tourism and travel businesses in the province.

Minh Hang - Le Hoi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/day-manh-ket-noi-cung-cau-nong-san-thuc-pham-va-du-lich-mien-tay-232625.htm