Vietnam has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with more than 60 markets, including major economic partners such as China, the European Union, South Korea, Japan, the UK, Russia, etc. Seizing this opportunity, Son La province has assigned functional agencies to promote trade promotion activities, connect product consumption in a timely, planned and effective manner.
Connecting trade to expand the market
Every year, the province always directs and promptly implements trade promotion and product consumption connection activities, especially agricultural products. All levels and sectors coordinate closely in the organization process. Trade promotion events, booths displaying and introducing agricultural products of the province always leave a strong impression, attracting many domestic and foreign partners and consumers to learn and connect for trade.
In 2023, for the first time, Son La province was selected to represent Vietnam to participate in the National Pavilion at the 23rd ASEAN-China Expo (CAEXPO 2023) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China - one of the largest trade promotion events of the year held in China. At the end of the event, Son La province was honored to receive the award from the CAEXPO Fair Organizing Committee for the most impressive design and organization of the National Pavilion.
Also in 2023, the province supported businesses and cooperatives to promote and introduce products on 3 international e-commerce platforms: Alibaba.com, EC21.com, Agrimp.com; supported businesses and cooperatives producing mango and coffee products to promote, introduce, and find partners in the UK, Germany, Australia and China markets through the Google Adwords advertising tool. In particular, in coordination with the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, the Center for Agricultural Trade Promotion, Interspace Vietnam Co., Ltd., to promote and consume plum products, as well as agricultural products, OCOP products... on the Postmart e-commerce platform and social networks Facebook, TikTok.
In addition, the province also organized a conference to connect trade of Son La coffee products in a series of events at the first Son La Coffee Festival in 2023, contributing to introducing and promoting Arabica coffee products of Son La province and the Northwestern provinces, attracting hundreds of thousands of people and tourists to visit and experience.
Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh, Director of the Provincial Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, said: Grasping the market, Son La has promoted trade promotion activities and developed e-commerce in recent times, contributing to building the brand of Son La agricultural products with domestic export enterprises and international partners.
By proactively and actively connecting trade to expand the market for goods, especially agricultural products, Son La has brought positive results. The selling prices of products with large export value in the first quarter of 2024 such as cassava, coffee, etc. are relatively stable. In particular, Arabica coffee products are attracting attention from partners around the world. In May alone, whole roasted coffee increased by 10.17%. The province's agricultural products are basically consumed at reasonable prices, contributing to the stability and socio-economic development of the province. The value of exported goods in 2023 is estimated at 186.8 million USD, an increase of 6.83% compared to 2022. Of which, the value of agricultural products and food products participating in exports is estimated at 177.6 million USD, an increase of 8.84% compared to 2022.
Currently, Thuan Chau has Trong Nguyen tea products that have achieved 4-star OCOP products. Tea products are participating in fairs and introduced in domestic and foreign trade promotion activities. Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, Director of the Cooperative, shared: In 2023, the Cooperative produced 230 tons of dry tea to supply domestic and foreign markets; revenue of about 11 billion VND. By intensively applying high-quality tea varieties and organic production, the Cooperative's tea products meet the increasing demand of the market and expand the export market. In the first months of 2024, the Cooperative exported nearly 100 tons of processed green tea to the Taiwanese market.
Adding to the joy of Son La agricultural products, on June 8, 2024, Vietnam Airlines will serve Son La plums for lunch and dinner on flights to European countries, Japan, Korea and domestic flights. In addition, there will be mousse cakes made from plums and plum tea. This will help position the brand and open up many opportunities to export Son La agricultural products.
Adapt faster, more effectively
In 2024, export activities in general and agricultural exports in particular are forecast to continue to face many difficulties and challenges due to the complicated situation of war and conflict in some regions of the world. In addition, many major economies are implementing increasingly strict conditions for importing goods. Son La's agricultural exports must meet requirements on product quality, labor, environment, greenhouse gas emission reduction, anti-deforestation, green growth, etc.
The Provincial People's Committee has focused on directing departments, branches, districts and cities to build international brands for the province's agricultural products to increase competitiveness; proactively implement trade promotion for agricultural products. Regularly update information and developments in import and export, especially customs clearance of goods at border gates with China, to support businesses, cooperatives and individuals to proactively regulate import and export activities.
Not stopping at paying attention to the fresh agricultural product export market, in the first quarter of 2024, departments, branches, districts and cities will advise the Provincial People's Committee to attract agricultural product processing enterprises to invest in association with developing raw material areas to produce canned export products. Up to now, they have coordinated to give opinions on agricultural product processing projects: Instant cereal and dried fruit factory of VFI Investment and Trade Production Joint Stock Company; "Solas fruit packaging and processing factory" of Bao Lam Son La Joint Stock Company; "BHL Son La modified starch processing factory" of BHL Food Ingredients Processing Joint Stock Company.
According to statistics, Son La province's export turnover in the first quarter of 2024 is estimated at 8.51 million USD, an increase of 60.53% over the same period last year. The total value of goods participating in the province's exports in the first quarter is estimated at 71.51 million USD, an increase of 14.97% over the same period last year. Of which, the value of agricultural products and food participating in exports is estimated at 70.33 million USD, an increase of 16.24% over the same period in 2023.
In 2024, Son La province strives for the value of exported goods to reach 196.1 million USD, an increase of 5% compared to 2023. Of which, agricultural and food products participating in export will reach 186.8 million USD, an increase of 5.17% compared to 2023.
The challenge for Vietnamese agricultural products when exporting to countries with FTAs is to meet technical barriers to trade (TBT) including a system of high technical standards and regulations. Therefore, in the coming time, all levels and sectors in the province must adapt more quickly and effectively in directing the application of advanced science and technology in production, meeting export product standards.
Le Anh
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