Trade is a bright spot in the economic picture of 2024.

In 2024,commerceThis continues to be a bright spot in Son La province's economic picture. Accordingly, the total retail sales of goods for the whole year are estimated to reach approximately 35,800 billion VND, an increase of 14.3% compared to 2023 and exceeding the 2024 plan by 5.9%.

In particular, the value of goods participating in exports in 2024 is estimated to reach 198 million USD, an increase of 6.1% compared to the same period last year and exceeding the plan by 0.97%.

Many activities to promote and advertise Son La's agricultural products have been implemented.

Speaking to a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Bac, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, shared his views.Son La- stated: In 2024, we strived to ensure a balance between supply and demand for goods, strengthened the management of commercial infrastructure, and developed e-commerce. We enhanced the updating and provision of market information, the import and export needs of various countries, supported businesses, cooperatives, and household businesses in participating in trade promotion programs, and boosted the consumption of agricultural products in the domestic market.

In particular, the Son La Department of Industry and Trade has participated in trade promotion activities, proactively innovating methods and selecting appropriate tools and measures to ensure that the target audience is reached and objectives are achieved with high efficiency.

"We participated in surveys and worked to understand the production plans, promotional needs, and marketing connections of agricultural production and processing businesses and cooperatives in the area. At the same time, we joined the provincial People's Committee's working group to meet with several supermarket chains and attend trade promotion and import-export development conferences both domestically and internationally."—Mr. Bac shared.

Within this picture of trade growth, there is also the strong development of e-commerce. With support from the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy - Ministry of Industry and Trade, Son La has built an e-commerce platform with 40 businesses and cooperatives and 60 selected products listed on the platform. At the same time, the Son La e-commerce platform is integrated into the unified e-commerce platform (Sanviet.vn) built and managed by the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy - Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Meanwhile, to ensure continued growth in goods exports, the main export products include: coffee, tea, cassava products, and agricultural products such as bananas and mangoes…

Boost exports and develop the goods distribution system.

Recognizing that the global and domestic economic situation will continue to face many difficulties and challenges in 2025 due to geopolitical factors and unpredictable weather patterns, one of the key objectives set by the Son La Department of Industry and Trade is to further strengthen the management of commercial infrastructure, promote socialization, and attract investment resources to develop the network of markets, supermarkets, and commercial centers in the province.

The processing industry continues to drive agricultural exports from Son La.

Develop diverse commercial markets, focusing on supporting e-commerce; innovate and continuously improve the quality of trade promotion activities, seeking to expand consumer markets; disseminate knowledge and raise awareness among production and business establishments about new generation free trade agreements.

Mr. Nguyen Van Bac affirmed: In 2025, Son La's Department of Industry and Trade will continue to promote the export of agricultural products with potential and advantages in production conditions, climate, soil, etc.; focusing on attracting businesses to invest in processing and preservation plants for products that meet export requirements. In particular, we will prioritize developing the circulation and distribution system and supporting the output of production.

At the same time, conduct a thorough review and strict management of multi-level marketing activities in the province. Coordinate with members of the Provincial Steering Committee 389 to combat commercial fraud and protect consumer rights.

To effectively carry out the above tasks, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue directives on the implementation of the Plan for the Industry and Trade Sector Planning. It will regularly review, update, and propose additions to the list of investment attraction projects annually and for the period 2021-2025; attract investment in the development of industrial clusters; large-scale concentrated agricultural processing industries and clean industries; and continue to attract labor-intensive industrial projects and logistics centers in the Mai Son - city, Moc Chau - Van Ho areas and the Long Sap Border Gate Economic Zone. It will encourage investors to develop renewable and clean energy sources such as wind power, biomass power, and pumped energy.

Continue reviewing legal documents, mechanisms, policies, and management documents at all levels, promptly amending or supplementing them, or proposing amendments or supplements to competent authorities to ensure compliance with current legal regulations and suitability to the local situation…

Agricultural products from Son La are being introduced and displayed at BigC Thang Long.

Promote administrative reform, create a favorable investment and business environment, promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, and work alongside businesses and entrepreneurs to boost investment attraction, encourage and support efficient production and business, and contribute to the development of industry and trade. Strengthen the fight against corruption and waste;

Mobilize capital resources, integrate programs and projects; strengthen resources, continue to perform the state management function of industrial promotion activities at the local level, encourage and support businesses and entrepreneurs to promote self-respect, patriotism, flexibility and creativity, and exploit the opportunities of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution and free trade agreements to boost production and business.

Enhance the effectiveness of trade promotion and supply-demand linkages. Implement comprehensive solutions to achieve breakthrough development in the domestic market and expand export markets. Develop e-commerce. Strengthen the promotion and encouragement of domestic product consumption. Select a number of potential products to design and implement specific trade promotion programs for these products in various markets. Continue to attract investment in retail outlets for agricultural products and specialty foods of Son La, as well as points for introducing and selling OCOP products and typical rural industrial products.

Thu Huong