When the enterprise is the subject of OCOP

Formal

Vu Cong One Member Co., Ltd. (Nam Sach) was established in 2012, growing from a business household. The enterprise specializes in processing local agricultural products such as onions, garlic, carrots, etc. In 2022, the unit registered 3 products to participate in OCOP: dried okra, dried green onions and dried onions. Right from the first time, all 3 products of the enterprise were ranked 4 stars, a rank recognized by the province. Mr. Vu Dinh Bay, Director of the company, said that the OCOP dossier is relatively complicated with many conditions and procedures, especially for the food sector. However, for enterprises, meeting and ensuring the requirements is not too difficult. Because enterprises have a lot of experience in implementing procedures on environmental protection, food hygiene and safety, traceability, quality control, etc., participating in OCOP is also more favorable. In the coming time, the company will continue to review and select products, focusing on completing the criteria to be recognized as OCOP products.

Hoang Giang Joint Stock Company (Hai Duong City) is a typical enterprise in building and developing OCOP products in the province. Currently, the company has 9 green bean cake products that meet 4-star OCOP standards and 1 product proposed for recognition by the Central Government as 5-star OCOP. Of which, 4 products ranked from 2020 have just been re-evaluated and continue to ensure 4-star OCOP criteria. According to Mr. Dao Quang Chuyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, choosing traditional specialty products for production and business, the enterprise is very interested in and invests in participating in the OCOP program. In addition to assigning 1 company leader to directly direct, the company arranges employees to concurrently be in charge of content related to OCOP. "Thanks to the methodical and synchronous implementation of solutions, especially focusing on the human factor, the enterprise has achieved many successes when trying its hand at the OCOP playground. From here, the company has more options and choices to build product brands and corporate image," Mr. Chuyen affirmed.

According to the Department of Rural Development, the province currently has more than 350 OCOP products, more than half of which are owned by enterprises. Most enterprises participating in OCOP will choose multiple products to register for ranking at the same time. The reason is that enterprises have certain advantages in proving that their products meet the strict requirements and standards of OCOP.

Competitive advantage

After decades of preserving the traditional ham and sausage craft of her family and locality, in 2020, Ms. Dao Thi Huyen Trang in Tan Huong commune (Ninh Giang) established the Vietnam Agricultural Products Corporation Company Limited with the goal of developing the traditional craft. From small-scale to large-scale production, Ms. Trang researched and carefully studied issues related to quality control, product design and market development. In 2022, right from the first time participating, her business had 2 products recognized as 4-star OCOP. In 2023, the company had 8 more products recognized as 4-star OCOP. Since developing into an enterprise, building OCOP products with a clear production and business orientation, ham, sausage, meatballs, etc. products with the Vietnamese agricultural product brand owned by Ms. Trang have become more widely known. According to Ms. Trang, being a household business has many limitations in managing and controlling financial activities, accounting, and market access. Becoming a business, registering, completing documents and being recognized as an OCOP product is also easier. OCOP certification is like a passport for businesses to orient their production and business development.

After being ranked, green bean cakes of Hoang Giang Joint Stock Company were labeled with OCOP. The company has taken advantage of this competitive advantage to develop and expand the market. From 2020 to now, the company's production volume has increased by 20% each year. Products are distributed to convenience stores, supermarkets, gift areas at relics, tourist attractions, and airports. In addition to focusing on domestic consumption, the company also connects and exports Hai Duong specialties to the Japanese market. In the coming time, the company will continue to research new products and register to participate in OCOP.

The subjects participating in OCOP are enterprises, cooperatives, production groups, and production households with business registration. Among them, enterprises have the most outstanding advantage when implementing OCOP criteria. Enterprises need to be the fulcrum for the OCOP movement to develop stably, sustainably, and effectively.