Solving the 'problem' of consuming products in mountainous, remote and isolated areas

Reporter of Industry and Trade Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development - Ministry of Industry and Trade about this issue.

Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development - Ministry of Industry and Trade

Strategic direction, practical effectiveness

- As the agency in charge of implementing the Trade Development Program for mountainous, remote, isolated and island areas for the 2015-2020 and 2021-2025 periods, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proactively coordinated with ministries, branches and localities to implement many activities to develop trade in mountainous, remote, isolated and island areas. Could you please share more about this issue?

Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan: In recent times, under the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister on economic development in particularly difficult areas, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries, branches and localities have effectively implemented policies on the development of difficult areas within the scope of assigned State management. These policies have initially brought about positive results in production, distribution and consumption in areas with many difficulties.

Among them, it is impossible not to mention the Trade Development Program for mountainous, remote, isolated and island areas in the 2015-2020, 2021-2025 and subsequent periods. The program is implemented in 287 districts with difficult and extremely difficult socio-economic conditions in 48 provinces/cities across the country. This is a special and extremely necessary program to build and develop a distribution system for goods and services, narrow the gap in trade development between this region and other regions, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, increasing people's income, and ensuring national security and defense in this region.

The implementation of the program in recent years has brought about positive results in terms of annual growth in the value of total retail sales of goods and services, promoting the development of branded products and goods that are typical, special, potential, and advantages of mountainous, border, remote, isolated and island areas to be included in the distribution system nationwide and for export.

Initially, from the above solutions and activities in the recent period, a modern and sustainable supply chain for consuming regional typical products has been formed to support production and consumption of products for businesses and business cooperatives of localities in mountainous areas, remote areas, and islands.

Creating a sustainable supply chain, promoting consumption of regional specialties

- Trade promotion activities and connecting supply and demand of goods in general and products of mountainous, border, remote and island areas in particular are activities that the Ministry of Industry and Trade pays special attention to. How effective are these activities so far, sir?

Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan: Trade promotion and supply-demand connection activities are a bright spot in policy implementation. Programs such as “Local Agricultural Products Week” at major supermarkets or promotional and discount events have helped widely promote regional specialties, attracting the attention of consumers and the participation of many businesses. In particular, the construction of sales points and the introduction of OCOP products have helped regional agricultural and handicraft products have a stable distribution channel and easier access to the domestic market.

Activities to promote the consumption of products from ethnic minority areas have initially contributed to promoting and introducing, helping consumers access typical products with local strengths, through trade promotion activities, display booths, exhibitions at cultural fairs, and trade festivals associated with tourism . Products produced and consumed have a re-impact on promoting production in this area.

Many concentrated production areas have also been formed and are currently being maintained and implemented well, many local products have been protected in terms of intellectual property and contributed to brand development, improving economic efficiency. Some agricultural production areas have been formed with quality products connected to modern distribution systems (supermarket systems) such as Son La agricultural products (plums, longans, vegetables and fruits...), OCOP products of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Bac Giang lychee, Ngoc Linh ginseng...).

Luc Ngan litchis are sold at supermarkets (Photo: Can Dung)

In particular, some products from ethnic minority and mountainous areas have reached international standards (exported to demanding markets such as Japan, the US, the EU, Australia, etc.) such as lychee (Bac Giang); mango, passion fruit, dragon fruit (Son La); passion fruit (Lam Dong)...

Digitalizing trade promotion, bringing mountain products far and wide

- Building on the achieved results, what additional activities will the Ministry of Industry and Trade have to support commercialization and expand the supply chain of products in remote mountainous areas and islands?

Mr. Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan: In the coming time, to continue supporting the promotion of product consumption in general and products of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in particular, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade, within the scope of its functions and tasks, we will continue to implement the following solutions:

Promote product trade promotion activities. Develop and implement product introduction and promotion programs such as product weeks, markets, festivals, etc. Create favorable conditions and provide financial support for businesses and cooperatives in this specific region to participate in prestigious fairs at home and abroad, especially fairs on agricultural products, specialties, and handicrafts, where regional and cultural factors are highly appreciated. Strengthen the organization of conferences connecting manufacturers with major distributors, modern retailers (supermarkets, chain stores), export enterprises and e-commerce platforms. The connection will emphasize the potential for product quality and uniqueness.

Developing e-commerce and applying digital technology, supporting the introduction of products from mountainous, remote and island areas to e-commerce platforms. At the same time, supporting training in online sales skills, livestreaming, digital marketing for people and cooperatives. Online product descriptions will focus on highlighting the origin, unique production process and cultural values. Encourage and support the application of traceability stamps (QR codes) so that consumers can easily find information about products, product processes, cultural stories and affirm quality.

Build comprehensive communication campaigns, tell compelling stories about products associated with people and the unique culture of each locality. At the same time, disseminate market information; support the improvement of product designs and packaging.

Integrate activities to support the consumption of products in mountainous, remote and island areas into the National Trade Promotion Program, the National E-commerce Development Program, the Domestic Market Development Project associated with the Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods", the project "Innovation in agricultural product consumption patterns", the OCOP Program... to increase the efficiency of product consumption.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will strengthen human resource training. At the same time, through Projects and Programs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will develop pilot models suitable to the economic conditions of each region, especially pilot models to support the consumption of products and goods for people in mountainous, remote and island areas.

Thank you!

Along with domestic consumption, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has determined that through the Vietnamese trade office system abroad, it will strive to bring products from mountainous, remote and island areas to the international market.

Performed by Phuong Lan

Source: https://congthuong.vn/giai-bai-toan-tieu-thu-san-pham-mien-nui-vung-sau-vung-xa-388886.html