For OCOP products to reach the international market, coordination, creativity, and innovation from all levels, sectors, and OCOP entities and cooperatives are needed.
Opportunities and challenges
According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, the total value of goods exports and imports between Vietnam and its partners worldwide in the first nine months of 2024 reached US$578.5 billion, an increase of 16.3% compared to the same period in 2023. Of this, exports reached US$299.7 billion, an increase of 15.4%, while imports reached over US$278.8 billion, an increase of 17.3%.
Given the unpredictable global economic situation and declining demand for goods in many major markets, Vietnam's export growth in the first nine months of this year is very encouraging. This demonstrates the significant efforts of businesses and authorities in improving the efficiency of exploiting traditional and new markets, and maximizing the benefits from free trade agreements (FTAs).
To support businesses, associations, and cooperatives in bringing OCOP products deeper into international markets, at the seminar "Connecting and promoting the consumption of OCOP products into modern distribution systems abroad," Ms. Cao Phuong Lan - representative of the European and American Market Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) - pointed out the advantages and challenges for Vietnamese export products.
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| Ms. Cao Phuong Lan - representative of the European and American Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) - speaks at the seminar. Photo: Phuong Cuc |
According to Ms. Lan, Vietnam currently has many advantages in exporting goods. One of them is the continued positive impact of existing FTAs with European and American market partners, maintaining Vietnam's advantages in trade and investment. Furthermore, global and regional market demand in Europe and America is gradually recovering as inflation has begun to decline since the end of 2023.
Furthermore, the continued efforts of developed industrial countries to diversify their supply sources, supply chains, and investments have helped Vietnam become an important manufacturing and export hub in the global value chain.
Furthermore, the trend in Europe and America towards promoting green economies, digital transformation, and circular economies has opened up many new cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese businesses.
Alongside the advantages, Vietnamese businesses also face difficulties when exporting OCOP products to international markets.
One of the most obvious challenges is that the global economy is entering a new era, fraught with risks, challenges, and unpredictability. Inflation is not decreasing, and rising service prices are hindering development and significantly impacting the normalization of monetary policy and the recovery of consumer demand in many countries.
The ongoing geopolitical conflict, with its potential to spread to other regions, is also one of the existing challenges. Specifically, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict shows no sign of ending, comprehensively impacting the global economy. The Red Sea crisis, caused by conflicts between countries in the Middle East, negatively affects the transportation of goods. Furthermore, political instability in major countries in the region, such as the United States and the EU, also impacts Vietnam's export turnover to varying degrees.
On the other hand, the trend of "deglobalization" continues to rise strongly. Protectionist policies in many countries are increasing. The growing concern of developed countries regarding sustainable development, combating climate change, and consumer safety is continuing to lay the groundwork for establishing stricter new standards for imported products.
Countries are diversifying their supply sources, avoiding over-reliance on China. Specifically, countries in Europe and America are increasingly sourcing from partners closer to their markets and with similar production structures to Vietnam, such as Turkey, Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. This has increased competition in Vietnam's export markets.
Promoting OCOP products for export.
To date, Vietnam has nearly 10,000 OCOP products with 3 stars or higher, of which only about 50 products have achieved the national 5-star OCOP standard. These are high-quality products that meet the requirements for export to other countries.
" Although OCOP products have been highly appreciated by Vietnamese consumers and have stable domestic consumption, in order to export to the world market in general and the European and American markets in particular, OCOP businesses will need to strive to improve the quality and value of their products to meet the stringent requirements of the international market ," Ms. Cao Phuong Lan commented.
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| The Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented numerous measures to promote trade between Vietnamese businesses and distribution systems worldwide. (Photo: Thai Manh) |
To support Vietnamese businesses in general and OCOP product manufacturers in particular, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has recently implemented a series of measures to promote trade connections between Vietnamese businesses and global distribution systems. Many OCOP products have successfully penetrated and established a foothold in major distribution systems such as Mega Market, BigC, Aeon, Amazon, Lotte, Carrefour, LuLu, Decathon, and Walmart.
In recent years, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also closely coordinated with local Departments of Industry and Trade, Vietnamese trade offices abroad, and major distributors to successfully organize many Vietnamese product weeks in countries such as Thailand, France, Japan, and South Korea. These events not only help promote high-quality products but also introduce the unique culture and tourism of Vietnam to the local people. The items showcased at these trade weeks are characteristic products of outstanding quality from various provinces and regions of Vietnam, such as sausages, grilled pork rolls, rice paper, fish sauce, rice, dried shrimp, processed fruits, cashews, macadamia nuts, bird's nests, and handicrafts: lacquer paintings, decorative products made from sedge, rattan, and bamboo, household goods, etc. Vietnamese trade weeks abroad have opened opportunities for businesses to connect with retail distribution systems in host countries, as well as meet directly with entrepreneurs and customers to seek opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.
In addition to focusing on sending Vietnamese business delegations abroad to survey and understand markets and approach potential customers at trade promotion events or trade fairs and exhibitions, the Ministry of Industry and Trade also directs the system of Vietnamese trade offices in other countries to connect with and bring importers and distributors to Vietnam to find sources of goods.
Ms. Phuong Lan shared: " Over the past two years, the Department of European and American Markets has successfully organized the Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 and 2024 series of events. This event attracted the participation of hundreds of importers, buyers, and distributors from many countries and regions around the world, as well as hundreds of reputable Vietnamese export businesses. The event was highly appreciated by participating businesses, providing very effective and substantial networking support."
Following the success of the previous events, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to organize the Viet Nam International Sourcing 2025 event in September 2025, with an expected attendance of approximately 400 foreign buyers, importers, and distributors and 500 Vietnamese businesses .
Source: https://congthuong.vn/no-luc-dua-san-pham-ocop-ra-thi-truong-quoc-te-356132.html
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