The Ministry of Industry and Trade is increasingly focused on promoting connectivity between producers and distributors in order to accelerate product and market growth and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and services. To that end, the ministry recently launched the “Vietnamese Goods Identification - Proud of Vietnamese Goods” program 2018 and the Vietnamese Goods Development Partners Conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said the “Vietnamese Goods Identification - Proud of Vietnamese Goods” program 2018has entered a new period of development, with a focus on producer-distributor links.

The Buy Vietnamese Goods campaign has been implemented for nine years to increase the presence of Vietnamese goods in more than 9,000 points of sales nationwide. From 65-95 percent of all goods distributed domestically are Vietnamese goods, with the rate in such leading distribution channels as Co.opmart, Satra, and Vissan reaching 90-95 percent.

Bui The, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Province Department of Industry and Trade said regional connectivity has expanded the market for Vietnamese products. Vo Phuong Thuy, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Province Department of Industry and Trade said the number of enterprises participating in the rice production and sales connectivity program has increased yearly.

Le Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department said Vietnam has built a legal framework for geographical indication registration and management. As of mid-2018, 60 geographical indications of 39 provinces and cities have been formulated, updated and protected, covering thousands of specialties such as Phu Quoc fish sauce, Vinh citrus, and Ly Son garlic.

There are many programs promoting production and sales of specialized local products, including a domestic market development project as part of the Buy Vietnamese Goods campaign, a project for rural trade development from 2010-2015 with a vision to 2020, and the national trade promotion program, among others.

Representatives of departments and sectors say policies on developing the domestic retail market are needed in order to enable domestic enterprises become strong retailers and distributors through expanding their operational scale and number of points of sales. It is also important to build and improve traditional markets to help domestic retailers increase competitiveness, they add.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue facilitating connectivity between enterprises in order to improve the

competitiveness and sales of Vietnamese goods and services.

Source: VEN