The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) launched the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) programme worth nearly 45 trillion VND (about 2 billion USD) on May 17. 

The cost is sourced from the State budget, businesses, cooperatives, credit organisations and investment funds. 

According to the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development, OCOP is an economic development programme in rural areas focusing on increasing internal power and values, contributing to the implementation of the National Target Programme on New Rural Development for 2016-2020. 

It aims to produce and offer quality products and services that are competitive at home and abroad, with priority given to cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is also expected to raise local income and meet national criteria on new-style rural areas for 2016-2020. 

According to the MARD, nearly 6,010 enterprises, cooperatives, working groups and registered business households are producing 4,823 products in six commodity groups. 

Specifically, there are 2,584 products in food, 1,041 in beverages, 231 in herbals, 186 in fabric and garment, 580 in souvenirs – interior décor, 201 in rural tourism services. However, only 1,086 products register for quality standards and 695 products register for intellectual property protection. 

As of late April, 60 out of 63 cities and provinces built the frame OCOP programme at the provincial level, 30 of which already completed the programme design and 28 others are collecting feedback before approval. 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said the ministry will build a management apparatus for the programme from the central to local level, standardise at least 50 percent of existing products by 2020, develop 8-10 cultural and tourism village models, and strengthen all firms and cooperatives joining the project. 

It will also develop 500 SMEs and cooperatives joining the programme, boost trade and marketing of OCOP products, and offer training to 1,200 State management officials and executives of firms and cooperatives. 

At the same time, the ministry will choose several cities and provinces in economic zones to pilot the programme.-VNA