The administration in Long An Province, southern Vietnam has allocated VND2.45 billion (US$99,212) for trade promotion in 2024.

According to Huynh Van Quang Hung, director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the province has green-lighted 16 trade promotion programs at a total cost of over VND2.2 billion ($89,086).

“In January-September, 13 programs were completed at a cost of over VND1.5 billion [$60,718]," said Hung. 

"These programs have contributed significantly to expanding the markets for local products.

“Our digital transformation in trade has helped us access a larger market and serves as the motivation for the expansion of goods production and circulation.”

More Long An goods promoted on e-commerce platforms

At present, the Long An Department of Industry and Trade is tapping enterprises to be introduced on https://txng.longan.gov.vn/ so that consumers can trace the origin of their purchases and give feedback on the province’s most sought-after products, creating a whole new dimension of transparency in the market.

Hung shared that the website, together with the establishment of the administration board of the province’s e-commerce platform (http://longantrade.com/) connected with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s e-commerce platform (https://sanviet.vn/), has contributed to boosting trade activities in Long An.

To date, consumers have scanned more than 3,300 product codes on the website https://txng.longan.gov.vn/. As many as 76 stores selling 312 products have joined the province’s e-commerce platform, the official reported.

From January through September, the Long An Department of Industry and Trade cooperated with telecom service providers Viettel and VNPT to pilot cashless payment points at a trade center, seven supermarkets, 279 convenience stores, and 41 traditional markets.

The department coordinated with Long An Power Company to increase the number of enterprises using electronic contracts to over 7,600, accounting for some 57 percent of the total number of companies in Long An.

The department signed a memorandum of understanding with Thailand’s Central Retail and OSB Investment and Technology JSC, the authorized agent for the cross-border e-commerce platform Alibaba.com in Vietnam.

This deal is meant to study and implement projects in Long An, as well as promote trade cooperation and the consumption of the province’s goods through these enterprises.

Twenty-four enterprises in the province have collaborated with Central Retail Vietnam and 22 businesses have joined Alibaba.

In 2024, the Long An Department of Industry and Trade will support five additional companies as they move their services to Alibaba’s platform.

Partnering with Ho Chi Minh City

Since early this year, the Long An Department of Industry and Trade has supported 157 enterprises in taking part in fairs and 61 companies in connecting with international partners.

The province has maintained a close connection with Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, with more than 280 contracts to supply goods to these localities. It holds five to 10 trade promotion activities with Ho Chi Minh City each year.

The Binh Dien Wholesale Market in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City and the Hoc Mon Wholesale Market in the namesake district receive some 200 and 160 metric tonnes of goods from Long An each day, respectively. 

Long An also provides hundreds of tonnes of goods to supermarkets, restaurants, and convenience stores in the southern metropolis.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade works hard to connect businesses in Long An Province with those in the goods consumption and logistics sectors in other localities and abroad, Hung said.

He added that the Ho Chi Minh City authorities are supporting Long An's enterprises in participating in market stability programs and are committed to promptly providing information about food control regulations in the city.

Many large enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City have invested in factories and production and distribution facilities in Long An, helping boost their connectivity and cooperation.

Long An is now home to 279 Bach Hoa Xanh, Winmart+, Co.op Food grocery stores, Dien May Xanh and The Gioi Di Dong electronic stores, San Ha food stores, and other private convenience stores.

The Long An Department of Industry and Trade has proposed the provincial administration and the Ministry of Industry and Trade organize a conference on connecting good supply chains in the province in 2024, opening up opportunities for bolstering goods consumption locally and abroad, according to Hung.

At the end of this year, the department will launch two venues for the introduction and sale of Long An’s OCOP (One Commune One Product) products and typical merchandise, with funding sourced from the new rural construction program.

The agency will also continue to develop a project aimed at building Long An product brands and connecting with more domestic and foreign regions to enhance product consumption, Hung said.

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