According to the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the work of evaluating and classifying products under the city’s OCOP (One Commune - One Product) Programme is carried out substantially, ensuring the prescribed criteria, especially “not chasing after achievements in quantity”. The already-recognised products bring many practical values, taking advantage of potential and advantages, thereby developing the OCOP Da Nang brand to reach far.

Da Nang is promoting the OCOP Da Nang brand. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam (left) introduces the crispy young grapefruit product Ngoon to customers. Photo: TRAN TRUC

The Dana Elite Production, Trade and Service Co., Ltd. specialises in the production and trading of more than 60 agarwood products from popular to high-end such as incense, cones, relaxing agarwood, bracelets, handicrafts and agarwood essential oil. In 2023, OCOP product lines namely a set of handheld agarwood hearts and a set of agarwood pens were recognised.

Ms. Trinh Thi Kim Tuyen, the company’s Director said: “There are many types of agarwood products on the market. Therefore, when launched on the market, the products must achieve the best quality and ensure a clear origin for consumers. In 2024, my enterprise made the debut of two new product lines, the Ngu Hanh incense cone set and the Ngu Hanh agarwood set, which are recognized by the Da Nang People's Committee as achieving 4-star OCOP. Through the OCOP programme, we hope that the city will continue to support the promotion of products to many local residents and tourists; creating a brand of quality OCOP Da Nang products. With the positive feedback from customers, in the coming time, we will expand to more diverse products, including fine art agarwood products”.

Meanwhile, 3 products from the Nhien Tam Cooperative located in Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang have just been evaluated and classified as 4-star OCOP items by the city. They are Ngoon brand crispy young grapefruit slices, Ngoon brand young grapefruit tea and Ngoon brand crispy young grapefruit sticks Aiming at products that are good for consumers' health, the company always adheres to the principle of only using young grapefruit grown using natural methods.

With safe raw materials and a closed production process, the cooperative’s products have been trusted and used by consumers everywhere. Up to now, the cooperative’s products are available in many supermarkets, stores and distribution units throughout provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and exported to the US and Australia.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, the Director of the Nhien Tam Cooperative, said: “When bringing products to the market, we focus on meeting the criteria of quality, image, product design and price. Since participating in the OCOP programme, the cooperative has continuously expanded its scale, improved product quality and diversified its consumption market. OCOP certified products are favourable conditions for customers to have more confidence in the quality of cooperative products, contributing to promoting consumption in the market, increasing the value of agricultural products”.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (second from left) discusses with representatives of the city’s businesses about the potential for exporting OCOP products. Photo: TRAN TRUC

To promote the development potential of the subjects and local advantages, the work of evaluating and classifying OCOP products is also carried out carefully and substantially. According to research, previously, the city-level evaluation council would evaluate and classify all OCOP products. However, after Decision No. 148/QD-TTg dated February 24, 2023 of the Prime Minister on promulgating the set of criteria and regulations for evaluating and classifying products of the OCOP Programme was issued, the district-level People's Committees in Da Nang were established to evaluate and organise the classification of products participating in the OCOP programme.

Accordingly, the People's Committees of the local districts will issue approval decisions, organise the announcement of evaluation results and grant certificates to products that achieve 3 OCOP stars. For products with a score of 4 stars or more, the dossier will be transferred to the city-level evaluation council for evaluation, classification and recognition.

According to the assessment of localities, the recognition of 3-star products is decentralised to districts and towns, helping the survey and evaluation from the stage of selecting ideas, developing plans and completing the evaluation and classification dossiers of products to be closer to reality. At the same time, districts are proactive in the work of evaluating and classifying products, helping to shorten the process, time, and approval progress, and creating conditions for subjects to access and grant OCOP certificates faster.

According to statistics, in the city, there are 118 products recognised as OCOP; of which 1 potential 5-star product is participating in the assessment at the national level, 43 others with 4 stars, and 74 with 3 stars.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Thi Bich Hau said that through the evaluation and classification rounds, it can be seen that OCOP products in the city are increasingly developed synchronously, especially in terms of quality, design and ensuring that they meet the needs and tastes of consumers. The production establishments have innovated technology, improved product quality as well as promoted trade and product promotion. The Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also developed support policies from packaging, labels to technological lines and machinery.

In 2025, the Department will not only focus on increasing the number of products but also ensure that the city’s OCOP products have a stable market. “For the city’s current OCOP products, although the quantity is not large, they have a foothold and are increasingly affirming the brand of Da Nang products.
In the coming time, the products must create a consumption market, especially right in Da Nang, which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists. In addition, the Department will continue to support bringing these products to foreign markets, ensuring that they fully meet import and export standards.”, said Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hau.

Reporting by TRAN TRUC - Translating by A.THU