Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and other delegates visit the Son La agricultural product booth in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: VGP/LS

Establish a Provincial Steering Committee on the production, processing, consumption, and export of agricultural products.

Accordingly, the departments and agencies that are members of the Provincial Steering Committee 598 have advised the Provincial People's Committee to work with central ministries and agencies, foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam, and large enterprises such as Vietnam Airlines, Central Retail Vietnam Joint Stock Company, etc., to support Son La province in promoting and connecting the consumption of the province's key agricultural products. They regularly update information and developments on customs clearance at border gates, and support businesses and cooperatives in regulating import and export activities.

Ms. Do Thi Bich Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Son La province, said: The Department has coordinated with other departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of districts and cities to advise the Provincial People's Committee on issuing a plan for exporting goods; a plan for trade promotion and e-commerce development; and a list of key products and production and business establishments. She requested that agencies and units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Departments of Industry and Trade of other provinces and cities support Son La province in regional linkages, organizing training conferences on trade promotion skills, product packaging design, and e-commerce training; livestreaming sales through social media channels; and participating in trade promotion meetings with the system of Vietnamese trade offices abroad.

Simultaneously, the Department of Industry and Trade of Son La province coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai province to facilitate connections between Minh Khai Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company and its Chinese import partners to survey mango growing areas and work directly with businesses and cooperatives involved in the production, collection, and packaging of mango products in the districts of Muong La, Mai Son, Yen Chau, and Song Ma. They also organized a delegation of businesses and cooperatives from Son La province to survey the business and export models of enterprises in Lao Cai province and discuss cooperation and linkages. In coordination with agencies and units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, they organized three training courses on food safety in Mai Son, Song Ma, and Sop Cop districts; and two training courses on e-commerce and sales skills on e-commerce platforms and social networks in Yen Chau and Moc Chau districts.

Ms. Dang Thi Ha, Director of Manh Khoi Agricultural Cooperative in Muong Bu commune, Muong La district, shared: "Since the beginning of the year, the cooperative has purchased 10 tons of fresh bananas daily from people in Muong La, Yen Chau, Phu Yen, Song Ma, and Moc Chau districts for export to China via Tan Thanh border gate in Lang Son province and Kim Thanh border gate in Lao Cai province. With the support and favorable conditions created by the province and Muong La district to participate in the fair, in June 2024, the cooperative continued to export fresh bananas to Thailand via Lao Bao border gate in Quang Tri province."

The launch ceremony for introducing "Son La plums" into Saigon Co.op's nationwide distribution system - Photo: VGP/LS

Participating in numerous events and programs to introduce Son La's agricultural products to other localities.

To help businesses and cooperatives connect, find partners, and expand product markets, the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center has facilitated the participation of businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses in exhibitions, product introductions, and promotions of agricultural products at events such as: the Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival 2024; the first International Cultural, Tourism and Culinary Festival - Ha Giang 2024; the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival; the Northwest Region Trade Fair in Dien Bien... Businesses and cooperatives were invited to participate in 38 programs and events in provinces and cities including Hai Phong, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Bac Ninh, and Hai Duong.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh, Director of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, informed: Since the beginning of the year, the Center has advised on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Son La Provincial People's Committee and Vietnam Airlines; organized 5 booths to display and introduce tourism products and OCOP products of the province at the ceremony announcing the Decision to recognize Moc Chau National Tourist Area; organized the launch ceremony to introduce "Son La Plum" into the Saigon Co.op distribution system nationwide; and organized a booth to display, promote, and introduce agricultural products of Son La province at the Saigon Co.op distribution system in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Vo Tran Ngoc, Business Director of Saigon Co.op, shared: "For the 2024 plum harvest, Saigon Co.op connected with suppliers to purchase 100 tons of 'Son La plums' and distributed them to 130 Co.opmart and Co.opXtra supermarkets nationwide. Customers have given positive feedback and high praise for the product's appearance and quality. With 800 sales points in 43 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide, we continue to survey, connect with, and sell more agricultural products and OCOP products from Son La province."

In addition to Saigon Co.op, the Provincial Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion has advised on the development of a cooperation agreement between the Son La Provincial People's Committee and WinCommerce General Trading and Service Joint Stock Company and Central Retail Vietnam Group, contributing to bringing many safe agricultural products from Son La into the high-end sales systems nationwide of major brands and corporations.

Introducing 'Son La Plum' into Saigon Co.op's distribution system.

To improve the quality of agricultural products, meet the requirements of domestic partners, and serve export markets, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued guidelines for farmers, businesses, and cooperatives to develop high-tech agriculture, clean agriculture, and organic agriculture.

Ms. Cam Thi Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: In the past six months, the Department has supported and maintained 5 high-tech agricultural zones; 285 safe agricultural and aquatic food supply chains; 119 export codes to China; 30 export codes to the United States; 41 export codes to Australia; 9 export codes to New Zealand, 3 export codes to the EU, and 3 export codes to other markets; 11 export codes for agricultural product packaging facilities; and 9 codes for crop-growing areas. The Department also assessed the application for recognition of a high-tech coffee production zone by Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company in Chieng Chung and Chieng Ban communes, Mai Son district.

The Department of Science and Technology is proceeding with the approval of the list and selection of the lead organization to implement 6 tasks serving agricultural development; maintaining and promoting the development of 28 agricultural products of the province that have been granted protection certificates by the Intellectual Property Office.

Districts and cities have also proactively developed plans and implemented trade promotion activities, stepping up propaganda and guidance for businesses and cooperatives to apply scientific and technological advancements in planting, caring for, preserving, and processing agricultural products...

Thanks to the efforts of the members of the Provincial Steering Committee 598, from the beginning of the year to July 20th, the entire province consumed over 206,630 tons of various fruits, worth over 2.699 billion VND. To boost the consumption of agricultural products, the province continues to direct and support businesses and cooperatives in applying scientific and technological advancements in planting, caring for, preserving, and processing products. The goal is for the province's export value to reach over 196 million USD in 2024.

Source: Government Electronic Newspaper