OCOP Ho Chi Minh City seeks solutions to develop value chains and elevate brands.

On the morning of November 29th, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment organized a workshop titled "Promoting the Development of OCOP Value Chains, Connecting Consumption and Brand Promotion".

The workshop was organized with the goal of connecting, sharing experiences, creating value, and providing a forum for management agencies, businesses, cooperatives, OCOP entities, and distribution units to exchange ideas and propose solutions for developing the OCOP value chain from production, processing, distribution to consumption. This aims to help OCOP products strengthen market connections, expand modern distribution systems and e-commerce, promote brands, and build the image of OCOP products in the city.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Da, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City currently has 1,006 OCOP products with 416 participating entities. Of these, 786 products have achieved 3 stars and 220 products have achieved 4 stars.

The workshop is part of the first series of events promoting and connecting OCOP products in 2025, themed 'OCOP Ho Chi Minh City - Integration and Development'. Photo: Le Binh .

Over the past period, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many policies and initiatives to encourage businesses to invest in rural agriculture, promote linkages, and facilitate product consumption. The strong development of infrastructure, logistics, and e-commerce has helped OCOP products from Ho Chi Minh City easily reach consumers and expand domestic and international markets. Businesses, cooperatives, and individual producers have shown a spirit of innovation and creativity, focusing on improving product quality and design.

“Many products with potential are characteristic of large urban areas, such as processed foods, beverages, handicrafts, ornamental plants, high-tech agricultural products, etc., which are in line with Ho Chi Minh City's orientation towards green and circular economy development. The implementation of the One Commune One Product Program has yielded positive results, creating a strong impetus for rural economic development,” Mr. Da shared.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Director of the Trade Promotion Center ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ). Photo: Le Binh .

However, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Director of the Trade Promotion Center (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), stated that although Ho Chi Minh City currently has over 1,000 OCOP products, most are only at the 3-star level, with no 5-star products yet. The important thing now is to reposition the OCOP product group, improve quality, and build brands based on the unique stories of each craft village.

“Ho Chi Minh City has a great advantage in gift products, especially in the context of strong tourism development. Therefore, the city needs to prioritize supporting the innovation of designs and packaging, especially for the international market. Currently, the designs of OCOP products in Ho Chi Minh City have improved, but most still fail to tell the story of their origin and do not create a strong impression on tourists,” Mr. Tien emphasized.

In addition, Mr. Tien suggested that the city needs to expand the OCOP product ecosystem, instead of only offering products in their traditional form. "Dried fish and squid shouldn't just be dried and sold as before. They can be processed, seasoned, and conveniently packaged for young people and tourists," Mr. Tien proposed.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to have 5-10 five-star OCOP products in the period 2025-2030. Photo: Le Binh .

One of the key solutions he particularly emphasized was digital transformation. According to him, this is not just a sales tool, but also a way to tell the product story, trace its origin, and build consumer trust. "Each OCOP (One Commune One Product) entity needs its own sales channel, with content introducing the production process, so that the product is truly visible in the market," he said.

Mr. Tien expects Ho Chi Minh City to further promote trade networking events and strongly develop e-commerce channels so that OCOP products can "spread to their full potential as a megacity."

Signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement between the Ho Chi Minh City Rural Development Sub-Department and the Vietnam Agricultural Entrepreneurs Club. Photo: Le Binh .

At the workshop, the Ho Chi Minh City Rural Development Sub-Department and the Vietnam Agricultural Entrepreneurs Club also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in implementing the city's policies and programs on rural development. Simultaneously, the cooperation program will help the parties leverage business resources to enhance competitiveness and promote sustainable agricultural product development.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/ocop-tphcm-tim-loi-giai-phat-trien-chuoi-gia-tri-va-nang-tam-thuong-hieu-d787214.html