ON MAY 10, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province coordinated with the Ministry of Health to organize a conference to implement Decision 463/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the Project "Development and formation of a medicinal plant industry center with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the main crop" (referred to as the Project). A national medicinal plant industry center is the aspiration set for Quang Nam, from its existing potential.
Outstanding value
Representatives of the Institute of Medicinal Materials (Ministry of Health) emphasized the outstanding potential of the Central Coast and Central Highlands regions in developing the medicinal materials industry, with Quang Nam as the center.
This region covers an area of 98,974 km 2 , accounting for 30% of the country's area, with diverse terrain from coastal to mountainous areas, creating ideal conditions for the development of medicinal herbs. With more than 50 ethnic groups living here, this region also preserves a treasure trove of indigenous knowledge on the use of medicinal herbs, which is the foundation for the development of the modern herbal industry.
Quang Nam records 832 medicinal species, of which Ngoc Linh ginseng is an endemic "precious gem", growing concentrated at an altitude of 1,500 - 2,100m in the Ngoc Linh mountain area of Quang Nam and Kon Tum.
In addition to Ngoc Linh ginseng, Quang Nam also has other valuable medicinal herbs such as cinnamon, Morinda officinalis, Codonopsis pilosula, Polyscias fruticosa, Amomum, ginger, and turmeric with significant planting areas. Neighboring provinces such as Kon Tum (841 species), Gia Lai (841 species), and Lam Dong (1,247 species) also contribute to creating rich medicinal resources for the region.
Many presentations by delegates at the conference agreed that the global demand for medicinal herbs is increasing rapidly. According to analysis, the global medicinal herb market is expected to grow steadily from 2022 to 2028, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. However, Vietnam currently imports 80-90% of medicinal herbs, showing great potential that has not been effectively exploited.
Quang Nam, with its advantages in resources, climate and geographical location near Chu Lai port, has the opportunity to become a center for the production and export of medicinal herbs. Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, with a planned area of 50 hectares for the medicinal herb industry center, is considered a strategic highlight, with convenient traffic connections and investment attraction.
Ms. Pham Thi Xuan Huong - General Director of OPC Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company said that Quang Nam is planned as a province in 8 key medicinal plant growing areas according to Decision 1976/QD-TTg, suitable for developing the cultivation of 10 indigenous medicinal plant species: roselle, bitter phyllanthus urinaria, periwinkle, white broad bean, yam, turmeric, cinnamon, cat's whiskers, purple cardamom, Ngoc Linh ginseng.
At the same time, Quang Nam has had its Project approved by the Prime Minister, creating motivation, opportunities and excitement for businesses to research, develop and produce medicinal herbs.
“OPC Company wishes to cooperate and invest in Quang Nam in developing Vietnamese medicinal herbs, especially Ngoc Linh ginseng. We will coordinate with the locality to select, research and develop medicinal herb varieties suitable for soil and climate, deploy seed supply, build and transfer planting techniques according to GACP-WHO standards. At the same time, closely cooperate with local farmers and businesses for sustainable farming, applying digital technology to manage growing areas. OPC commits to jointly establish a traceability system for the entire production chain, ensuring transparency and enhancing product value,” said Ms. Huong.
Many other opinions at the conference also stated that to take advantage of the potential, Quang Nam needs to focus on three factors: preserving medicinal plant genetic resources, applying advanced technology in cultivation and processing, and building a regional value chain. Ngoc Linh ginseng, with its high economic value and national reputation, is the key for Quang Nam to affirm its position in the global medicinal plant industry.
The beginning of desire
To realize the Project, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province issued Plan 3484 on April 26, 2025, outlining a detailed implementation roadmap. The "eagles" of the medicinal herbs industry also do not hide their ambition to take advantage of the Project's opportunities for investment.
Mr. Tran Ba Duong - Chairman of THACO Board of Directors said that THACO is confident in having the capacity and resources to realize an industrial park specializing in agriculture and forestry associated with medicinal herbs and the unit has currently planned an industrial cluster for medicinal herb development.
“THACO hopes to make widespread contributions, creating jobs for people in growing areas that do not need to be too large in scale. In addition to the memorandum of understanding, THACO, including THACO AGRI Group and I personally will actively sponsor the implementation of the Project.
THACO hopes that Quang Nam will become a center for deep processing of medicinal herbs, with scientific research and products that are used in daily life, especially in the trend of increasing use of medicinal herbs. We will actively accompany the development of the Project, considering it one of the missions and responsibilities of a large enterprise" - Mr. Tran Ba Duong said at the conference.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasized that the Project is just a move by the Government to create a boost, a starting point, and there is still a lot of work for Quang Nam to do after that.
“Quang Nam must consider this as a starting point for implementation, not the final destination. This is a project containing many expectations, setting the motivation to contribute to the development of the medicinal herbs industry, contributing to the development of Quang Nam province in particular, and Vietnam in general,” said Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long.
To effectively implement the Project, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested that first of all, in terms of mechanisms and policies, the first starting point must be Quang Nam and neighboring localities with strengths in planting, processing, and commercializing Ngoc Linh ginseng. Quang Nam and other localities must also proactively review and see what policies are needed when the medicinal herbs industry and Ngoc Linh ginseng product chain are increasingly developing...
In the coming time, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that Quang Nam preside over and coordinate with neighboring provinces and businesses to support each other to grow big and look far ahead to create competition for Ngoc Linh ginseng and medicinal herbs, especially in the international market. Quang Nam also needs to soon complete the announcement of land use planning and related planning, and pay attention to investing in the technical infrastructure system of medicinal herb areas.
Affirming Quang Nam's determination in implementing the Project, Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet said this will be one of the breakthrough spearheads to unlock resources and promote socio-economic development, especially in mountainous and remote areas.
"The provincial leaders are committed to making efforts and determination in directing and operating, building a healthy, equal, and transparent investment and business environment, developing the medicinal herbs industry in a sustainable direction, creating a closed value chain associated with deep processing and export" - Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet said.
At the conference, investment cooperation memorandums were signed between the People's Committee of Quang Nam province and enterprises and corporations. These cooperation memorandums, memoranda and agreements focus on research, cultivation and development of Ngoc Linh ginseng, medicinal herbs; establishment of a seed research center, extraction factory; medicinal herb testing center; application of traceability technology...
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/trung-tam-cong-nghiep-duoc-lieu-quoc-gia-va-dong-luc-moi-cho-quang-nam-3154560.html
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